• Hearing proceeds today
• The three are out on bond
Image: FILE
Former Presbyterian Church of East Africa moderator David Ritho was charged in a Kiambu court on Wednesday with the theft of Sh50.9 million.
He was charged alongside James Njane and Peter Kamuthu, both employees of the church.
They denied 10 other counts of forgery before senior principal magistrate Stella Atambo.
The accused pleaded to the theft and forgery charges after the prosecution, led by senior state counsel Christine Mbevi, amended the charge sheet.
The charges state that on diverse dates between January 2, 2016, and June 30, 2017, the accused, jointly with others not before the court, conspired to steal Sh50,940,753 from PCEA head office at South C Estate in Nairobi.
Other charges state that with intent to defraud, the accused forged signatures of Peter Kania Kariuki and Amon Nderi Ng'ang'a on a funds transfer form at Equity Bank in Nairobi West on January 20, 2016.
The magistrate ordered the hearing to proceed from Thursday.
Defence lawyers Danstan Omari and Kennedy Kang'ahi told the court they are ready to proceed with the case without further delay.
Senior lawyer Gibson Kamau Kuria, for the church, also said he is ready to proceed.
A number of senior church officials who have recorded statements with police are set to testify.
The accused are out on Sh3 million bond each.