NAIROBI,Kenya, July 21 – James Murimi Njeru Wednesday pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud charges and attempted extortion by threats.
The accused, admitted to obtaining money by false pretenses from his grandmother, Mary Nyaga.
Arraigned at the Kibera Law Courts, the accused admitted to obtaining Sh 480,000 on different dates between May 25 and June 8,2021.
The court was informed that he had initially colluded with another person by lying to his grandmother that he would purchase a pick-up truck for her.
Her grandmother, unsuspectingly transfered the funds to a bank account presented to her but unfortunately never received the vehicle.
In yet another separate incident, the accused is again said to have attempted to extort money from his grandmother using threats via text messages that he would kill him.
The prosecution told the court that he impersonated a gang member saying that he would do the unthinkable if she did not send him USD 10,000 over 1 million in Kenya shillings.
He was also using a different mobile number.
“We have been watching your movements from Lavington, Hurlingham to Kathangeri in Embu. We know who you communicate with mostly your two lovely daughters abroad and others we are on track with. We want money, 10,000 dollars. Delivered to us immediately,” the text reads.
The accused directed his grandmother to withdraw the money and put it in an envelope upon which further instructions would be issued.
“We will give you the location to drop the money. You cooperate, you stay alive with your family and various grandchildren, you try to whisper any word to anyone including the police. We will kill your close family and finish you. The choice is yours. We are watching you. If you want to dare what we can do, try to default to any of our commands.” read the text further.
After the incident was reported to police, Njeru was traced in Rongai and arrested.
He has since been remanded to the Muthangari police station pending reading of the facts in court after which he will be sentenced.
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