Coast

Turkana politician charged with obtaining millions in gold trade scam

Turkana politician Simon Ekai Ewoi appears before Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo on March 29, 2024, over four counts of obtaining money by false pretences. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

By Farhiya Hussein | Friday, March 29, 2024

In the first count, Ewoi allegedly obtained Sh21,735,350 from Caroline Nyambura Njogu on diverse dates between June 20, 2019, and February 22, 2024, in Mombasa County.

A Turkana County politician has been charged before a Mombasa court with obtaining Sh 24,263,780 by false pretences connected to the gold and mercury trade.

Simon Ekai Ewoi was charged before Senior Resident Magistrate Hon. David Odhiambo on four charges of acquiring money under false pretences in violation of Section 313 of the penal code.

Keep reading

In the first count, Ewoi allegedly obtained Sh21,735,350 from Caroline Nyambura Njogu on diverse dates between June 20, 2019, and February 22, 2024, in Mombasa County.

He was also charged jointly with others, not before the court, in the second count of obtaining by pretences Sh1,573,850 from Caroline Wanjiru Muthoni on diverse dates between June 9, 2022, and August 20, 2023, within the Republic of Kenya.

He was also charged in the third count, along with others not before the court, with obtaining Sh1,573,850 from Mary Muteti under false pretences on various days between July 9, 2019 and November 8, 2020, in Mombasa County.

In the fourth count, Ewoi, allegedly with others not before court, with intent to defraud, obtained Sh 111,930 from Annie Hope Masai on diverse dates between October 30, 2021, and November 10, 2021, in Mombasa County.

The court heard that the accused and his accomplices obtained the total sum of Sh24,263,780 from the four complaints by falsely pretending that he was in a position to partner with them in the gold and mercury trade.

The accused pleaded not guilty to all counts, and Senior Prosecution Counsel Barbara Sombo opposed his immediate release due to ongoing police investigations.

Sombo prayed to Hon. Odhiambo that the accused be detained further to allow more complainants to record their statements and allow investigators to analyse some documentary evidence.

To enable detectives to finish their investigation, the trial magistrate ordered Ewoi's ten-day detention at Central Police Station.

The court ordered his appearance in court on April 8, 2024, and his release on a Sh7 million bond with a similar surety and two guarantors who provide specific information about their locations.