Nairobi News

HashtagHustle

How Kiambu finance chief got busted with ‘fake’ US dollars in Parklands


Details have now emerged of how Kiambu County Finance Chief Officer and her driver were dramatically arrested last week and later charged at a Kibera Law Courts for allegedly being in possession of fake US dollars amounting to Sh67, 000.

Ms Faith Njeri Harrison and her driver Mr Harrison Kung’u were nabbed by sleuths from the special crime unit on Wednesday evening at Parklands on Mpaka Road in Nairobi while driving a double cabin car with GK and not county number plates.

They were later booked at Capitol Hill Police Station.

CHARGED

Ms Njeri was later charged that on April 24, at Parklands along Mpaka Road without lawful authority or excuse, she was found in possession of 670 papers “upon which words and figures letters and lines printed as 100 denomination of dollars of United States of America”.

She was also charged that on the same day and place, “not being her place of abode, she had with her an article for use in the course of or connection with cheating namely fake dollars”.

Mr Kun’gu was charged with driving a county car which had unprescribed number plates.

In her statement to the police, a copy of which the Nation has obtained, she had just ended a meeting with the Controller of Budget in Nairobi and proceeded to Bruce House for an official matter and later to Holiday Inn.

While leaving Holiday Inn, Ms Njeri told police she saw a group of armed people who ordered them to stop near MP Shah Hospital and bundled them in two different cars.

In a convoy of about four cars, they were taken to the Nairobi Area Traffic Police headquarters and later to special crime unit offices where a search was conducted.

FAKE DOLLARS

According to police, they found 670 fake US dollars on the car seat and Sh50,000 in Ms Njeri’s handbag but in an inventory prepared by detective Cyrus Keter, Ms Njeri indicated that she knew nothing about the dollars but acknowledged having the Sh50,000.

Detective Wilson Koech, in a sworn affidavit, told the court that two were arrested “following an outcry from innocent members of public and foreigners of being conned by fraudsters”, saying that the two were spotted visiting various entertainment joints in Parklands.

Mr Koech, who unsuccessfully requested the court to have the two detained for seven days, indicated they recovered 670 pieces of paper resembling US dollars in 100 denominations, Sh50,000 in 1,000 denominations and county government number plate.

The two denied the charges and Ms Njeri was freed on a bond of Sh1 million with a surety of a similar amount or cash bail of Sh200, 000.

Mr Kung’u was released on a bond of Sh200,000 with an alternative of cash bail of Sh20,000 pending the hearing and determination of the case.