Kneya: Seven face more charges in Chase Bank fraud suit

Seven persons among them former chairman of collapsed Chase Bank Mohammed Khan might face additional charges after the prosecution indicated receiving new information concerning the fraud in which they allegedly stole Sh1.1 billion from the bank.

Appearing before senior principal magistrate Bernard Ochoi, the prosecution said the new information might lead to the amendment of the charge sheet. The court heard that the prosecution needed one month for the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji to review the file and give directions and supply the new information to the defence lawyers.

Mr Ochoi however allowed the prosecution three weeks to decide, after which he will give directions on the hearing of the case, which is yet to start almost three years after the accused persons were charged. Chase Bank Kenya Ltd went into receivership in April 2016 after failing to meet its financial obligations.

In the case, former bank chairman Mohammed Khan has been charged together with six others over alleged theft of Sh1.1 billion.

The former Bank boss has denied several charges including conspiracy to steal and money laundering, after he was accused of removing different amounts from an account held at the bank and transferring the same to Paramount Universal Bank knowing or with reasons to believe that the money formed part of proceeds of crime.

Others facing charges are Duncan Kabui, James Mwenja and Makarios Agumbi, Kibwezi West MP Patrick Musimba, Angela Musimba and Lucien Sunter, Porting Access Ltd and Itecs Ltd.

They are accused that between January 23, 2015 and March 31, 2016 at the bank’s head office, they conspired to steal the amount from the lender. Mr Khan faces additional charges of using his position as a director to steal.

The prosecution also sought for time to confirm whether one of the accused persons will be extradited from the Netherlands to face the charges.

Mr Kabui, Mr Mwenja and Mr Agumbi are accused of facilitating the transfer of Sh740,442,687 from two accounts at Chase Bank to Paramount Universal Bank, knowingly or reasonably ought to have known that the money was part of proceeds of crime.

Mr Musimba, Ms Musimba and Sunter are accused of transferring Sh409,682,900 from Chase Bank to Kenya Commercial Bank, yet they ought to have known that the money formed part of proceeds of crime.