0
0
Two men who hired a truck for the manager of a logistics company contracted by the government to transport Sh4 million worth of relief items intended for starving learners in West Pokot, have been charged with theft after the food was reportedly diverted.
Gibson Ammari Ontunga and Noah Jituma Kiruki are the accused.
According to Article 275 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Article 268 (1) of the Penal Code, they were charged with theft.
They were charged with stealing 560 bags of 50 kilograms of grain from the Kenyan government, worth NIS 4.06 million.
On April 9, 2023, the two were charged with the crime, along with two other fugitives.
After he reportedly collected 63,000 shillings from a manager of a logistics company who was paying them to supply a trailer that was transporting rice to West Pokot, they were also charged with obtaining money under false pretenses in violation of Section 313 of the Penal Code. code.
They are accused of defrauding Joseph Mutisya of his money by fraudulently claiming that they provided him with food aid transportation services on April 9, 2023.
Mr Musyoka has been contracted by a company hired by the Ministry of Education to transport relief items to drought-affected areas including West Pokot.
In order to fulfill his end of the bargain, Mr. Musyoka contacted Mr. Ontunga, who was supposed to provide a food delivery trailer.
After the payment agreement, Mr. Ontunga gained access to a trailer that was loaded with 560 bags of rice in the presence of a representative of the Ministry of Education.
As directed by Mr. Ontunga, Mr. Mutisya gave money to two people, including a driver, for petrol and other expenses.
By April 11, 2023, the shipment was due to reach its destination, but the delivery never took place.
When Mr Mutisya later tried to contact the money recipients, they had already turned off their phones.
He contacted Mr. Ontunga, who said that although he tried to contact them in vain, he had outsourced the truck to his partner, Mr. Keruki.
Because of their involvement in the outsourcing of transportation services and after agreeing to pay for the services to be provided to the missing accused, the police decided to charge Mr. Ontunga and Mr. Keruki.
Before the chief judge of the Makadara courts, Monica Kivuti, the two suspects contested the charges.
They were released after depositing a bond of one million shillings and a cash bail of 300,000 shillings.
Ahead of the hearing starting October 12, 2023, the case will be announced on May 26.
