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Six men have been charged at Milimani Law Court with conspiracy to steal Sh94.9 million, property of Quickmart Supermarket Limited.

Martin Nderi Ng’ang’a, Joel Oyuchi Mwelesi, Harrison Mugendi Njeru, James Mbatia Kariuki, Ismael Patrick Gitonga and Ronald Ouma Oluu jointly with others who were not before court were charged with conspiring to steal the money on November 6, 2023 in Nairobi. They were also charged with stealing and handling stolen goods.

The court heard that the accused persons jointly with others not in court stole cash worth Sh94,918,750 from a Wells Fargo mortor vehicle registration number KBA 517 T while the said money was on a transit to Family bank.

Ng’ang’a separately was charged with another offence of handling of stolen goods whereby he was found in possession of Sh9,101,300 at Roybain Heights in Nairobi.

Gitonga and Ng’ang’a were separately charged with destroying evidence contrary to section 116 of the penal code.

The prosecution told the court that on November 11, 2023 at Mihang’o area within Nairobi county the two allegedly tampered with motor vehicle registration number KBM 751W Toyota Fielder white in colour rendering it hard to be identified or used as evidence.

Mbatia and Gitonga were also accused of tampering with a metallic blue box which contained the money in a bid to conceal evidence.

They appeared before a Milimani Chief magistrate Lucas Onyina and denied the charges.
The prosecution did not oppose their release on bond but urged the court to put stringent terms due to the large sum of money involved in the matter.

“Your honour I am not opposing the release of the accused on bond but I urge the court to put stringent terms considering the figures on the charge sheet,” said the state prosecutor Anderson Gikunda.
The defence lawyer representing Mbatia and Gitonga requested the court for leniency on granting bond terms indicating that his clients had been in custody since November 9, this year and their families are suffering since the accused persons are the sole bread winners,

“Your honour I pray this court to consider the time my clients had been in custody and for their families’ sake be lenient on granting bond terms,” said the lawyer.

He also told the court that Kariuki had been working for the complainant in this matter for 13 years and he will not interfere with witnesses or investigation in the matter.

The lawyer further requested the court to release the motor vehicle belonging to Kariuki which he operates as a taxi. “Your honour I plead with this court to release the motor vehicle to my client’s family since it is not related to this matter,” pleaded the lawyer.

Magistrate Onyina directed all the accused to remain in custody until December 1, when their bond terms will be determined.