UK Councillor from Kenya on Fraud Charges

Daniel Munyambu, a councilor in Basildon, Essex in the UK

A Kenyan who was elected a councillor in Britain last year was yesterday charged with fraud and forging of documents. Daniel Munyambu, a councilor in Basildon, Essex in the UK, denied three charges of fraud when he appeared before Nairobi chief magistrate Esther Maina. The court heard that Munyambu, who is from Kairi in Kiambu, allegedly forged receipts claiming that they had been issued by Clickett Traders. It is alleged that he committed the offence on or before November 14, 2008 in Kenya.

He was faced with a second count of forging a receipt for £15,800 purporting it to be a genuine and validly issued by Clickett Traders. It is alleged that he committed the offence on or before November 18, 2008. The court further heard that he committed a similar offence between November 1 and 30, 2008 in Nairobi when, with intent to defraud, forged another receipt of £1,800 purporting it to be a genuine receipt issued by the same company.

Munyambu further denied that he obtained £18,000 under false pretences contrary to section 313 of the penal code when he alleged to have imported a Toyota car. Senior superintendant Onesmus Towett asked the court to deny the suspect bail saying that he is a flight risk. But his defence lawyer objected the move saying the offence is bailable. The court will rule on whether to grant him bail on April 10.

Source: The Star