Govt Agrees to Refund University Girl Ksh 113M Gifted by Belgian Tycoon

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Over Ksh 37 billion fake currency seized on May 4, 2021.
File

The government on Monday, January 30 agreed to refund the Ksh113 million it confiscated from one of four women who received money from Belgian tycoon, Marc De Mesel.

Appearing before the Anti-Corruption Court, the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA), through lawyer Mohamed Adow, filed a request to withdraw the case against Tebby Wambuku.

Adow explained that ARA had no backing to prove that the funds were illegally obtained by the Belgian who sent her money.

A photo of Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi
A photo of Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi
Photo
The Judiciary

"The investigations into the case found no sufficient evidence to sustain the forfeiture proceedings. We have consent signed by both parties to have the matter withdrawn,” Adow noted.

In response to the request, the judge looked into the consent form tabled and granted the plea by the lawyer. The case was declared closed.

Consequently, Wambuku would have full access to the funds which were temporarily withheld by the government for over one year.

ARA moved in to freeze the account in 2021, after realising an irregular deposit of the lump sum of money into her bank account.

While seeking orders to withhold the cash, the agency raised questions on how Wambuku made Ksh113 million, six months after opening the account.

According to her account profile, the Kenyan indicated that she was self-employed. This was the red flag that caused the government to suspect that they were proceeds of crime.

In her defence, she explained that the money was a 'love gift' from the Belgian, whom she claimed to have a romantic relationship with.

Notably, Wambuku's sister Jane Wangui Kago received Ksh49 million while her friends Felista Njoroge and Sarah Wambui had their accounts greased with Ksh109 and 100 million respectively. 

In November 2022, Njoroge failed to appear in court for processing. On the other hand, De Mesel is said to have sneaked into Tanzania through the Namanga border.

Cryptocurrency investor Merc De Mesel in Europe in 2017
Cryptocurrency investor Merc De Mesel in Europe in 2017
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Courtesy Merc De Mesel
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