Vasco real estate director charged with land fraud

A real estate company director has been charged with fraud.

Leah Muthoni Mwaura of Vasco Real Estate was accused of aiming to defraud Richard Ndichu Kimani of at least Sh8.8 million by selling him a piece of land which she did not have.

Appearing before Thika Principal Magistrate Yusuf Baraza on Tuesday, Muthoni was charged with two counts of obtaining money with pretence.

“On diverse dates between April 25, 2023 and October 18, 2023, in Thika West Sub-County, within Kiambu County, jointly with others not before court, with intent to defraud, obtained from Richard Kimani a sum of Sh8,800,000 by falsely pretending that you were in a position to sell him a piece of land within Kwaheri in Makongeni landless, a fact that you knew to be false,” the charges read in part.

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Muthoni was also accused of obtaining Sh1.7 million from Richard Kimani in an alleged separate land sale transaction.

She denied the claims.

According to the prosecution, she allegedly falsely claimed to be in a position to sell them land in the Makongeni area.

“On October 13, 2023, at Thika town within Thika West Sub-County, Kiambu County jointly with another before the court with intent to defraud, obtained from Joseph Kinyanjui a sum of one million and seventy thousand by falsely pretending that you were in a position to sell him a piece of land; Kiambu/Munyu/4495 approximately 0.039 hectares within Makongeni Landless area, a fact that you knew to be false,” charges also read.

Muthoni was remanded to wait for consolidation with a separate case involving Mary Wangari Mwaura, a Vasco Real Estate director.

Wangari was also charged before the same court on February 14, 2024, with defrauding Kimani of Sh8.8 million in the same land sale saga.

She, too, denied the charge.

The court will determine on March 3, whether Muthoni will be released on bail or bond.

“This case shall be mentioned on March 3, 2025, before court number one for consideration of bond terms and further orders. Meanwhile, the accused person shall be remanded in custody,” the court ruled.