By : Rhoda Bogeta
Nairobi court on Friday deferred plea taking for three suspects linked to an alleged Ksh 350 million land fraud involving the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), after the defence raised concerns over duplicate proceedings in another court.
Harish Ramji Manji, Ashvin Ramji Manji, and Bharat Ramji Manji were presented before the magistrate, but the court was informed that the charges they face mirror those already pending before another court.
The defence told the court that there is a Court of Appeal decision staying the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of the accused persons. They argued that the current charges are identical to those filed before Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi in case E568/2024.
The trio is accused of conspiring to defraud NSSF of a 3.043-hectare parcel of land in Mavoko Municipality, allegedly valued at around Ksh 350 million.
According to the charge sheet, the suspects are said to have forged transfer documents and a Certificate of Title, presenting them as legitimate documents purportedly signed by the NSSF Board of Trustees and the Ministry of Lands.
They face several counts, including making a false document contrary to Sections 347(a) and 349 of the Penal Code, forgery under Sections 345 and 349, and obtaining registration by false pretence contrary to Section 320.
However, plea taking stalled after the defence argued that the matter is already active before Magistrate Ekhubi. The court heard that the two sets of charges are “word for word” the same.
The related matter is scheduled for mention before Magistrate Dolphina Alego on Monday, where the status of the appellate court’s stay orders is expected to be confirmed.
The trio were released on a personal bond of KSh 200,000 each.
