Court Freezes Another Sh49 Million Belgian Man Sent to Lover’s Sister

The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has obtained an order to freeze another Sh49 million received from Belgian Marc De Mesel.

The money was wired to two Equity Bank accounts belonging to Jane Wangui Kago, a sister to Mesel’s alleged girlfriend Tebby Wambui Kago whose Sh108 million from the Belgian was also frozen last month.

Mesel is also linked to Felesta Nyamathira Njoroge, a 21-year-old Nairobi Technical Institute student whose Sh107 million was also frozen last month on suspicion of being proceeds of crime. The Belgian claims Felesta is his girlfriend and that he gifted her the millions to secure “financial security for our future children.”

ARA told the court that Wangui is suspected to be part of a syndicate involved in a complex money-laundering scheme involving Marc De Mesel, who is suspected to be the kingpin of the money laundering scheme.

The money frozen last week was held in two accounts, one holding Sh3.1 million and the other 355,990 euros (Sh45.6 million). Wangui says the money was meant to boost her salon and clothes business in Ruiru.

Wangui claims Mesel and Wambui met at Pirates Beach in Mombasa in 2017 and soon became lovers. A year later, they acquired an apartment at Garden City on Thika Road, moved in together, and got a child.

The foreigner later left the country and has been sending money to them. He also gave Wambui Sh20 million, which she used to put up a house for their mother in Thogoto, Kiambu County.

Justice Grace Nzioka barred Wangui from withdrawing the money pending the determination of the case filed by ARA.