• The suspects were arrested on April 27 by DCI officers from Kilifi county who were investigating the case.
• The case will be mentioned on May 13.
Image: ALPHONCE GARI
Two Italians have been charged with allegedly obtaining Sh32 million by false pretences.
They allegedly obtained the money from two fellow Italians in the tourist resort town of Watamu, Kilifi county.
Daniele Lo Coco and Massimo Nativi denied the charges before Kilifi chief magistrate Julius Mukut Nangea.
The suspects were arrested on April 27 by DCI officers from Kilifi county who were investigating the case.
In the first count, they were accused of obtaining Sh17 million between August 30, 2018 and August 1, 2019, from Rita Nappo by pretending they were in a position to sublease her villa no 5A in Watamu.
The court heard that the villa is on plot number Kilifi Jimba 1544, measuring approximately 0.327 hectares (0.8 acres).
In the second count, they were charged with obtaining Sh15 million between March 21, 2020, and February 24, 2021, from Girola Fiorenzo by pretending they were in a position to sublease her villa number 4B in Watamu.
The villa is located on plot number Kilifi Jimba 1544, measuring approximately 0.327 hectares (0.8 acres).
Earlier, the case had to be delayed after the accused's lawyer Tukero ole Kina asked the court to get an Italian interpreter as his clients knows "very little English".
Later, an Italian translator Piero Canobbio from Kilifi was found and interpreted for them in court.
The complainants were represented by lawyer Ndegwa Njiru. He had earlier asked the court to give direction on whether Ole Kina could represent the accused since he was a shareholder in the company and an interested party.
However, Ole Kina told the court he had not recorded any statement with the DCI and he had received instructions to represent the two suspects.
The defence lawyer applied for bond for the two suspects, saying they were investors in Watamu and would avail themselves in court whenever they are required.
Prosecuting counsel Winnie Atieno did not oppose the bond application but urged the court to direct the accused to deposit their passports and leave one contact person.
Njiru supported Atieno, saying the idea for the accused depositing their passports in court and having a contact person was important as they could escape through the border to Tanzania.
Ole Kina, however, opposed the condition for the accused to deposit their passports and have contact persons, terming it strange.
He argued there was no evidence produced in court to show they were a flight risk.
The magistrate ordered the accused to be released on Sh3 million bond each, with one Kenyan surety of the same amount.
The case will be mentioned on May 13.