Gilbert Wachira,Collins Muchera and Mercy Wanja Murithi Charged for Swindling Ksh100 Million in Fake Laptop Tenders

In a Nairobi court, three traders were brought up on charges of falsely obtaining over Sh100 million by deceiving a businessman with promises of awarding him a laptop supply tender.

Gilbert Wachira, known as Moris Kariuki, Collins Muchera, known as Charles, and Mercy Wanja Murithi, known as Hannah Nyaguthie, appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate David Ndungi at Milimani and entered pleas of not guilty to the fraud charges.

The initial charge alleges that between August 8 and October 29, 2018, within Nairobi county, they conspired with others not presently before the court to defraud John Omondi, a director of Hopeland Advertising and Design Limited, of Sh62.95 million. They did so by falsely pretending that they had the authority to award him a tender for the supply of laptops.

Additionally, they are accused of obtaining Sh12 million from another complainant, Eunice Gakinya of Evaton General Supplies. This amount was deposited into the account of Collins Muchera Imbaya, also known as Charles, at Diamond Trust Bank, utilizing the same deceptive tactics.

Further charges involve the accused obtaining Sh15 million, Sh10 million, Sh9 million, and Sh750,000 from the same complainants on various occasions, all under the guise of awarding tenders for laptop supply.

The alleged offenses took place on identical dates in Nairobi, alongside others who have already been charged. The magistrate granted each accused person Sh200,000 bail, with the case scheduled for a hearing on June 24.