A Nairobi court has summoned a Malaysian National to testify in a case where several Kenyans have been charged in a 2.85 B Gold scam.
Milimani Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo issued fresh sermons to Halid Bin Yacoob to be present in court at the next hearing date since he is the key witness as the complainant in the case.
The prosecution had asked court for an adjournment telling court that they had tried getting in touch with Yacoob to no avail.
“Your honour I pray for an adjournment of the matter since the key complainant in this matter is not present before the court and the officer investigating the matter tried to reach him this morning without success,” Murage told the court.
The state also told the court that there are other witnesses who are ready to testify in the matter but they prefer the key witness to finish with his testimony first and others to follow.
The defence lawyers Wandungi Kirathe and Alex Kimani opposed the application by the prosecution citing that they were ready to proceed and urged the court to decline the application,
They said that their clients have been suffering since they have been appearing before the court all the time they are required to but the one who brought them fails to appear leading to the delayed justice.
“Kindly your honour I pray you dismiss this matter since the complainant is no longer interested to pursue the case,” they urged court
In response, the state asked the court to consider the current situation in Malaysia where it is grappling with a massive gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights that resulted in evacuations and injuries,
“Considering the current situation in Malaysia, no one knows whether the complainant is safe or not but we hope he is fine. For that reason I pray you consider our prayer and grant our request for adjournment,” he said
The seven accused persons include Didier Muke, Brian Otiende, Patrick Otieno, Mark Kabete, Ken Kiboi, Joshua Ngandi and Charles Cincent Njerenga.
The suspects were alleged to have visibly shocked, the complainant who landed in Kenya from Kuala Lumpur on December 25, 2023, following an invitation by Rock Africa miner operated by the suspects.
In the well-choreographed scheme, the suspects set up an operational base in a house in Kileleshwa, with fully furnished office-style rooms to dupe the unsuspecting foreign nationals.
The two foreigners were to meet the seven on December 27, to finalize on the first shipment of 50 kg refined gold, per kilogram going for Ksh 7.2 million.
The case was adjourned to August 27, 2025 when the hearing is expected to commence
