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How two businessmen were conned out of Sh20.4 million in fake dollars deal

Fraud suspects Noor Abdikadir Hassan and Zeitun Aftin Huriye in the dock at the Makadara Law Courts on April 15, 2024. (Photo: Joseph Ndunda)

By Joseph Ndunda | 16 Apr 2024

They are accussed of defrauding the businessmen by claiming they could sell them US dollars at an exchange rate of Sh120.

Two people who allegedly defrauded two businessmen of Sh20.4 million, purporting to be selling them US dollars at an exchange rate of Sh120, are facing charges of obtaining the money by false pretences.

Noor Abdikadir Hassan and Zeitun Aftin Huriye are accused of conning Abdi Mohamed Ahmed and Said Yusuf Jamaa of Sh12 million and 8.4 million, respectively, in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on April 4, 2024, contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code.

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They are accused of obtaining the money by claiming they were in a position to exchange it for dollars.

Abdi met Zeitun, who informed him of the sale of $300,000 on the black market and introduced him to the dealer. Abdi met the dealer, who claimed he had that amount of US dollars and would exchange it at that rate, and therefore wanted Sh36 million.

Abdi mobilised two friends, including Said, and together they raised Sh20.4 million, which they gave to the dealer, who left after promising to deliver them $300,000 the next day once they delivered the remaining amount.

The dealer, however, did not deliver what he promised and took Abdi and the others around in circles when they pursued the matter, eventually realising they had been conned.

They reported the matter to the police, with the Starehe office of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) taking over the probe. They arrested one suspect, who confessed to knowing Zeitun but said he had not received any money from the complainants.

Zeitun was then summoned by the DCI. She also admitted to knowing the man in custody but reportedly clarified that the money had been picked up by another man who was to hand it over to the dealer.

The man, Noor, was tracked and arrested but the alleged dealer remains at large. The DCI's investigations established that the two colluded to defraud the complainants.

Noor is facing an additional charge of giving false information to a person employed in the public service in contravention of Section 129 (a) of the Penal Code. This was because he reported to police on April 10, 2024, that he had been defrauded of Sh7,070,000.

He is accused of making a false report to Police Inspector Patrick Mutinda of the Pangani Police Station, causing him to conduct investigations into the offence, which he ought not to have done.

The suspects denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi of the Makadara Law Courts and appealed for lenient bond and bail terms.

They were each released on a Sh3 million bond or a Sh700,000 cash bail.

The case will be mentioned on June 7, 2024, ahead of the hearing on September 7.