Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana has narrated to a Nairobi court how a foreign witch doctor conned him a whopping Ksh76 million after selling all his properties in an “investment deal”
In his emotional testimony on Thursday, October 6, 2022, Mungatana gave a blow-to-blow account before Milimani Principal Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi, how Chad national Abdoulaye Tamba Kouro, a traditional healer promised to double his money.
Mungatana said that Kouro, who was introduced to him by a friend, had asked him for an initial investment of Ksh500,000, which he doubled as promised.
A second investment of Ksh5 million was also said to have yielded Ksh10 million after six months.
“He called me personally, a few months later, and told me not to bring small monies. I gave him one million US dollars. At the time, the exchange rate was 76,” Mungatana informed the court.
“I was very happy when I was told there was another opportunity to invest Ksh5 million. I looked for money from friends and relatives including my brothers. Kouro had said I will be paid double the amount. After six months, he, true to his words, gave me back Ksh10 million and all these transactions were in cash. I never suspected that it would go wrong because the accused inspires you with confidence. When you go to his place you will see many vehicles,” the Senator said.
PHOTO/Courtesy
The senator further said that all transactions were done in cash and that Kouro insisted that the monies be delivered in US dollars.
“I sold my property and shares. I borrowed money from friends and relatives. There were cars in my late wife’s name. I took short-term loans over the log books,” he said.
The court heard that the alleged witch doctor, Kouro, switched his phone off and vanished shortly after receiving the money, putting Mungatana’s children’s education and the wellbeing of his family in jeopardy.
“My wife died later and throughout we had problems in the house because she believed I was misusing the money. She even believed that somebody else and not her went to the house in Karen, ” Mungatana added.
The senator said that he trusted Kouro because their previous dealings had inspired him with confidence.
“Your honour, this man has a big vehicle, a well-furnished apartment, and many servants, who treat him like a king,” he said.
Kouro is charged with forgery and unlawful possession of forged currency notes valued at approximately Ksh9.6 million.
Mungatana asked the magistrate to jail the accused person saying he is aware of other prominent people who are his victims but they have refused to come out for fear of their reputation.
“For me, it was an investment scam because I come from Tana River. I learnt a lesson; I learnt that Nairobi is hard. This man here needs to be convicted,” he said.
In the case, the Chad national is facing a charge of obtaining Ksh76 million by false pretence from Mungatana on diverse dates between April 20, 2011, and April 29, 2013, in Hurlingham, Nairobi with the intent to defraud him by pretending that he was in a position to invest the money in the oil industry.
Kouro is also alleged to have obtained $6796 (Ksh700,000) by false pretence from another complainant, Makau Muteke, on March 9, 2017, while purporting to invest it in business.
He was arrested by DCI Flying Squad officers on October 1, 2018, at Sandalwood Apartments in Brookside Drive, Westlands, with fake currency consisting of $54000 in denominations of 100, €19,000 in denominations of 100, and €3400 in denominations of 500.
The Investigating officer in the case, Henry Maitai, presented the currency notes in court as exhibits.
The case was adjourned to November 3, 2022.
