Turkana politician back in court in new Sh8m fraud case

A Turkana politician who was recently charged with obtaining over Sh24 million in a gold trade scam has found himself back in court over similar charges.

Simon Ekai Ewoi faced Mombasa Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo on Monday, accused of obtaining over Sh8,049,000 by deceptive means, a fifth count.

Ewoi allegedly solicited the funds by falsely claiming his assets had been frozen by the Central Bank of Kenya. He is said to have convinced the complainant to provide financial assistance under the guise of needing help to unfreeze his assets.

The charge sheet states that in exchange for the money, "he allegedly told the complaint that he would buy her a parcel of land, a fact he knew to be false".

He is said to have committed the offence between January 11, 2022, and July 18, 2022, in Mombasa County.

Ewoi denied the charge and was released on a Sh4 million surety bond.

The matter being prosecuted by Senior Prosecution Counsel Barbara Sombo will be mentioned on April 24, 2024.

The latest charge adds to a series of accusations levelled against Ewoi. In the first count, he is accused of obtaining a significant sum of Sh21,735,350 from Caroline Nyambura Njogu between June 20, 2019 and February 22, 2024, in Mombasa County.

In the second count, he and accomplices not before the court allegedly obtained Sh1,573,850 from Caroline Wanjiru Muthoni between June 9, 2022, and August 20, 2023.

In the third count, also involving other individuals, Ewoi is accused of obtaining Sh1,573,850 from Mary Muteti under false pretences, between July 9, 2019 and November 8, 2020, in Mombasa.

The fourth count states that Ewoi, along with others not currently facing charges, is accused of obtaining Sh111,930 from Annie Hope Masai with the intent to defraud. The incident transpired between October 30, 2021 and November 10, 2021, in the same county.

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

The politician pleaded not guilty to all counts.

He risks a prison sentence of three lines, according to Section 313 of the Penal Code."