A businessman suspected to have obtained close to Sh105M from a Ukrainian national in a fake gold scandal has been charged at Milimani Law Courts.
Andre Kongolo Tshikunga appeared before magistrate Bernard Ochoi and denied one count of obtaining contrary to the law.
He allegedly committed the offence on dates between the month of January 2018 and November 2018 at the offices of M/S Afrisolutions Company limited along Kaptei road Kilelwshwa within Nairobi.
Kongolo denied the charges before Milimani senior principal magistrate Bernard Ochoi and pleaded for lenient bond terms.
Through his lawyer Stanley Kangai, he said he is not a flight risk and has a fixed abode. Kangai said his client has a right to bail or bond.
The prosecution however, opposed his release pn bail stating that he is a flight risk. It added that he should deposit his passport in court as he has dual citizenship.
The magistrate directed that Kongolo be detained at Capitol hill police station until January 17 when the court will rule on his bond.
Last Friday, Kongole was detained after the prosecution requested to have him locked in police cells for a week to enable them to finalise investigations.
Police said Kongole had allegedly conned people out of millions of shillings by claiming he could help them buy gold.
In an affidavit which was closed in court by investigating officer Julio Mutembe, police sought to be allowed to continue holding Kongolo. They said the investigations involve weighty matters that require ample time as police are expected to record statements from victims who include foreigners.
The court heard that Kongolo is a flight risk as he has dual citizenship (Kenya and the DRC).
“The suspect has been dealing in unidentified businesses that include sourcing and selling of gold from unknown sources, transporting it to different destinations and is facing criminal charges in Kenya,” the court was told.
The court heard Kongolo was arrested after allegedly conning a Ukrainian investor of Sh940 million.
Allegedly, the Ukrainian was lured into the country as a trap to syphon his money through a tricky gold business and parted with huge amounts of money to engage in the business.
“The gold in question turned out to be a different thing, despite paying for its security in custody of Brinks Security Services,” officer Mutembei said.
