Fraud

Meru based lawyer charged with alleged Sh4 million land fraud

The State has lined up four witnesses to testify against the accused

In Summary

•Meru Chief Magistrate Dominica Nyambu said the case will be brought for hearing on July 18, 2024.

•The State has lined up four witnesses to testify against the accused.

Hudson Mutugi Francis, a mechanic, (left) and Meru based lawyer Jackson Mukaria Muriungi at Meru Magistrates court on Thursday where they were charged with three accounts of forgery of land worth Sh4 million
Hudson Mutugi Francis, a mechanic, (left) and Meru based lawyer Jackson Mukaria Muriungi at Meru Magistrates court on Thursday where they were charged with three accounts of forgery of land worth Sh4 million
Image: Dennis Dibondo

A Meru based lawyer and a mechanic have been charged with three counts of alleged forgery and conspiracy to defraud a businessman of land valued at Sh4million.

Jackson Mukaria Muriungi, a lawyer based in Meru, is alleged to have forged a letter of consent for change of ownership of the said plot to read Hudson Mutugi Francis.

Muriungi used to be an employee of the Meru County government at the time.

On Thursday the two pleaded not guilty before Meru Chief Magistrate Dominica Nyambu.

The two were charged with conspiracy to defraud contrary to section 317 of the penal code, forgery contrary to section 349 (d) of the penal code and making a document without authority contrary to section 357(a) of the penal code.

He then allegedly made the said fraudulent letter, purporting it to be a genuine document issued by the Ministry of Lands and physical planning, housing, urban development and public works, Meru.

The former civil servant then allegedly pretended Mutugi had been allocated the parcel of land from the said ministry, and attempted to defraud the businessman of the plot.

This is said to have happened on diverse dates between March 5 1997 and August 4, 2015.

Muriungi was represented by lawyer Thuranira Atheru.

He was released Sh500,000 cash bail or suerity of Sh1 million.

Chief Magistrate Nyambu said the case will be brought for hearing on July 18, 2024.

The State has lined up four witnesses to testify against the accused.

WATCH: The latest videos from the Star