Chinese in court for allegedly stealing Sh24m aloe vera from sickly man

A Chinese national has been charged before Mombasa Law Courts with allegedly stealing Sh24 million medicinal aloe vera from a businessman.

Li Changhong was charged, alongside Nzomo Muvengei and Philip Maina, with allegedly conspiring to defraud Yahya Omar Mohamed of 28,080 kilograms of aloe vera gum intended for export to China.

Mohamed who appeared in court in a wheelchair, told Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo that he has 25 children to take care of, and he wants his money back.

“What I want is justice. I want my money. I am disabled and have 25 children. Let justice be done. I will only be happy if I am paid,” he said.

Changhong and his co-accused are facing charges of fraud, theft by agents, and handling stolen goods.

The accused denied the charges and were granted a bond of Sh5 million or an alternative cash bail of Sh500,000 each.

They are accused of defrauding Mohamed by claiming they could export the aloe vera consignment but later stole it and shipped it under a different name.

It is alleged that on November 3, 2024, Mohamed, a long-time exporter of medicinal aloe vera, booked his shipment at the Inland Container Depot in Nairobi.

However, he fell critically ill and was admitted to Coptic Hospital, where he underwent surgery and slipped into a coma just as his consignment was being processed for export.

According to investigations officer Sergeant Titus Munialo, the original 40-foot container (DFSU7384072) carrying Mohamed’s consignment was illicitly removed from the depot and taken to Kabansora Warehouse in Embakasi.

Munialo said that while the businessman was fighting for his life in the intensive care unit, the three were allegedly orchestrating to export the aloe vera under a different name.

Mohamed reported the matter at the Inland Container Depot Police Station under OB 21/21/11/2024.

He said the container was allegedly opened and its contents repacked into two smaller containers, which were then shipped to China via Mombasa.

“At Kabansora warehouse, the said container was opened and cross-stuffed into two 1x20 ft containers prefixed (PCIU0121738 and UETU2267111) and shipped to China through the port of Mombasa,” said Munialo.

The officer in his affidavit said that Eshine Agricultural Planting Company Limited, allegedly linked to Changhong, facilitated the export.

He said that although Changhong provided company registration documents, police are still awaiting verification from the Registrar of Companies regarding his directorship.

Munialo also informed the court that Changhong came to Kenya at an unspecified time, and his activities in the country are the subject of the investigations.

The officer said that Changhong was a flight risk and sought for one week to detain him to allow verification of his nationality, visa validity, and business permits.

"The foreigner is said to be involved in the business of exporting products that he sources within the country, but the investigators are yet to establish from the relevant authorities his business interest in the country and whether he has the permit to engage in any kind of business, including the export of Aloe Vera outside the country," said Munalo.

He said that as investigations deepened, Mr Changhong attempted to flee the country but was intercepted at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Immigration officers at JKIA detained him, and he was later arrested and detained under OB 20/20/1/2025 at the airport’s police station.

“Mr Changhong, while well aware of the ongoing investigations, was intercepted by immigration officers at JKIA while leaving the country for China and arrested by police officers,” said Munalo.

State Counsel Barbara Sombo informed the court that there were discussions for an out-of-court settlement, with Changhong allegedly expressing willingness to compensate the complainant.

However, Mohamed told the court that he had not been contacted by the accused as promised.

The case will be mentioned on March 5, 2025.