Three United Millers directors charged over Sh79m fraud

Three directors of United Millers have been charged with conspiracy to defraud B.N Kotecha and Sons limited Sh79 million.Sunil Narshi Shah, Kamal Narshi Punja and Magnesh Kumar Varma are charged alongside their employee Henry Munyoki Kavita.
According to the charge sheet, on 2nd April 2015 at unknown place within the Republic they jointly conspired with intent to defraud B.N .Kotecha and Sons limited of Sh 79 million by falsely pretending that they had lost business as United Miller’s LTD to their clients by failure to supply sugar.
They are also accused of conspiracy to defeat the course of justice.
The charge sheet read that on October 13, 2015 at Kisumu High Court conspired to defeat course of justice by filing Kisumu High Court Suit No 38 of 2015 namely United Millers Limited versus BN Kotecha &,Sons LTD Hemal Kishore Kotecha &Harshil Kishore Kotecha using falsified documents to with local purchase order No 099 for Wema General Merchants local purchase order No 124 for Huruma Stores ,local purchase order No 106 for Alyam stores.
Their employee, Henry Munyoki was charged with 3 counts of forgery .It is said the offenses were committed on 15th April,2015,where with intent to defraud he forged a Local Purchase order No 106 for Alysam stores purporting it to be a genuine local Purchase order.
Kamal and Sunil however failed to show up in Court after the Court was informed that they are in isolation after being exposed to Covid_19.
Through their lawyer, the accused pleaded with the magistrate to release them on favorable cash bail saying that they are 70 years old and having been local businessmen for years.
They informed the court that the accused have co-operated with the police and they will abscond when granted bail.
Lawyer Tom Ojienda acting for the complainant said that they accused should be ordered to deposit their passports in court since they are a flight risk.
“When the accused were supposed to plead to the charges, they informed the court that they were in isolation in Kisumu after interacting with a covid19 patient and needed time to quarantine themselves an application which was strongly opposed by the DPP,”added Ojienda.
He added that the accused have been taking court in circles, “said Ojienda.

Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi directed the accused to deposit their passports in court and ordered them to not to leave the country without informing the court.

They were released on Sh 400,000 cash bail or a bond of Sh 1 million each.

The matter will be mentioned on May 24, 2021 before city court.