A Kenyan woman is on the verge of losing Ksh102 million after she failed to show up at the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) for identification.
Felister Nyamathira Njoroge claimed that the money was a gift from her Belgian lover. However, two women, sharing the same name and identity, laid claim to the seized fund hence compounding the case.
Kenyan authorities argued that the money, an alleged proceed of local and international financial crimes, would be retained by ARA after the two ladies failed to prove their identities.
Njoroge was required to appear before the ARA for processing by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Seemingly confused detectives asked the women laying claim to the funds and the bank accounts holding the money to identify herself, but she wasn’t able to
High Court had earlier ordered both women to appear at Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) for identification.
Records indicated that the money was wired by Marc De Mesel, a Belgian YouTube personality and cryptocurrency enthusiast.
The Belgian later transferred Ksh257 million to three other women — Tabby Wambuku Kago (Ksh108 million), Jane Wangui Kago (Ksh49 million), and Serah Wambui (Ksh100 million) in August 2021.
Mesel wired the Ksh102 million in four transactions between August 4 and August 6, 2021.
High Court has since ordered ARA to freeze the cash since none of them showed up at Asset Recovery Agency, despite their lawyers being asked to produce the said documents in court.
ARA is seeking the court’s nod for the money to be forfeited to the state on the grounds that it is proceeds of money laundering.
High Court Judge Justice Maina on Thursday, November 3, dismissed the women’s separate applications to lift the interim preservation orders and to bar the ARA from forfeiting the funds to the state.
