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A central African man who allegedly conned Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana a whopping Sh76 million in fake petroleum oil business has been put on his defence by a Nairobi court.

Abdoulaye Tamba Kouro, a Chad national, has denied defrauding the senator of the millions before Milimani Resident Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi.

The prosecution led by Senior State Prosecutor Virginia Kariuki has, however, urged the court to place Kouro on his defence, saying the prosecution presented tangible evidence linking him to the offence.

“We have presented tangible evidence to warrant the accused to be put on his defence,”  Kariuki submitted.

The court concurred with Kariuki that the prosecution has established a prima facie case against the Chad national.

Prosecuton had earlier successfully argued an application to have the bond granted to Kouro cancelled after he skipped court attendance several times. The accused is currently detained at the Industrial Area Prison and will be produced in court today to proceed with his defence.

Colossal sum

Kouro’s lawyer Stanley Kang’ahi sought time to file a written defence adding that “the suspect is unwell.” He  is charged with fraudulently obtaining Sh76 million from Mungatana on diverse dates between April 20, 2011 and April 29, 2013, in Hurlingham, Nairobi. He allegedly defrauded Mungatana of the colossal sum pretending that he was in a position to invest the money in the oil industry.

Besides Mungatana, Kouro is also alleged to have defrauded Makau Muteke $6796 (Sh700,000) on the pretext that he would invest it in business on March 9, 2017.

Kouro also faces another count of being in possession of assorted fake currencies totaling to Sh960 million.

The fake currencies which police recovered from Kouro at his Sandalwood Apartment on Brookside Drive Westlands Nairobi include $54,000, 19,000 Euros and 3,400 Euros. When he testified on October 6, 2022, Mungatana gave a blow-by-blow account of how the traditional healer promised to double his money.

Mungatana recalled how Kouro, who was introduced to him by a friend, had asked him for an initial investment of Sh500,000, which he doubled as promised.

He said he gave a second investment of Sh5 million which he said yielded Sh10 million after six months.“He called me personally, a few months later, and told me not to bring small monies. I gave him a million US dollars. At the time, the exchange rate was 76,” Mungatana informed the court.

“I was very happy when I was told there was another opportunity to invest Sh5 million. I looked for money from friends and relatives including my brothers. Kouro had said I will be paid double the amount. After six months, he, true to his word, gave me back Sh10 million and all these transactions were in cash. I never suspected that it would go wrong because the accused inspires you with confidence. When you go to his place you will see many vehicles,” the Senator said.

He added: “I sold my property and shares. I borrowed money from friends and relatives. There were cars in my late wife’s name. I took short-term loans over the log books.” Mungatana said Kouro, switched his phone off and vanished shortly after receiving the money, putting Mungatana’s children’s education and the wellbeing of his family in jeopardy.

“My wife died later and throughout we had problems in the house because she believed I was misusing the money. She even believed that somebody else and not her went to the house in Karen,” Mungatana added. The Senator said that he trusted Kouro because their previous dealings had inspired him with confidence.

Severe sentence

“Your honour, this man has a big vehicle, a well-furnished apartment, and many servants, who treat him like a king,” he said.

Kouro is charged with forgery and unlawful possession of forged currency notes valued at approximately Sh9.6 million.

Mungatana asked the magistrate to impose a severe jail term against Kouro saying he is aware of other prominent people who fell victim but have refused to come out for fear of their reputation.

“For me, it was an investment scam because I come from Tana River. I learnt a lesson. I learnt that Nairobi is hard. This man here needs to be convicted,” Mungatana urged as he rested his testimony.

Kouro was arrested on October 1, 2018, at Sandalwood Apartments in Brookside Drive, Westlands, with fake currency consisting of $54000 in denominations of 100, €19,000 in denominations of 100, and €3400 in denominations of 500.

The investigating officer in the case, Henry Maitai, presented the currency notes in court as exhibits.