A Nairobi trader was on Tuesday charged with defrauding a US-based Kenyan financial consultant of Sh12.5 million in a fake tender scam.
Douglas Juma Onduso is said to have obtained a total of Sh12,548,646 from Michael Maeri after deceiving him into believing he had won tenders to renovate Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) offices, supply files to the Supreme Court, and tanks to Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC).
The court heard that Maeri wired the money to the accused through Western Money Union, MPesa and through an account of his brother at Equity Bank Limited to undertake the works.
The charge sheet stated that on diverse dates between September 19th and December 23rd, 2021, with intent to defraud, the accused obtained Sh6,504,252 from Maeri, claiming he had won a tender from KRA to renovate its offices at the 3rd and 31st floors at Times Towers in Nairobi.
He is also said to have received Sh1,354,252 within the same period alleging that he had won another tender to supply files to the Supreme Court.
In the third count, he is accused of obtaining Sh3,690,000 from Maeri alleging he had landed a tender to supply water tanks to KMTC.
Onduso allegedly forged and uttered the Local Purchase Orders (LPOs) from KRA, the Supreme Court, and KMTC which he sent Maeri to convince him to release the funds to finance the projects.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges before Chief Magistrate Wendy Kagendo at the Milimani law courts and was granted a Sh3 million bond. The magistrate also directed the accused to appear in court on January 23rd for pre-trial directions.
