Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi releases suspects involved in the Barclays bank fake currency scandal

Court releases all suspects in Sh2 billion Barclays drama

Mark Mwithaga

March 26, 2019 5:19 PM

Set free

Barclays Bank Queensway branch, where DCI is probing fake currency bust

The four suspects involved in the Sh2 billion fake currency discovered in Barclays Bank Queens way branch, Nairobi, were on Tuesday charged and released.

The four, who appeared before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi, pleaded not guilty to the accusations and were set free on bail.

The four suspects during a past court session Pulse Live Kenya

Erick Adede, who was claimed to be the owner of the safety deposit box was let go on a cash bail of Sh1 million while Ahmed Shah, Irene Wairimu Kimani and Elizabeth Muthoni were released on a cash bail of Sh300,000 each.

Adanyi ruled that the suspects had been charged with conspiracy to defraud and being in possession of papers intended to resemble and pass as currency notes, and being in possession of mineral.

The judge however refused to grant the prosecution their request of denying Adede bail, terming that their argument was not convincing.

The request had been proposed in order to give the prosecution team time to prepare an affidavit.

DCI claim fake currency linked to international syndicate

As part of the ongoing investigations, the DCI had last Wednesday conveyed a meeting with the bank’s senior managers on how people were allocated a safe there.

Entry to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters Pulse Live Kenya

Reports had indicated that detectives had been looking into how the bank with such a reputable standing could have clients storing such huge amounts of money without its knowledge.

Police claimed that the fake currency was linked to an international syndicate that deals in fake gold.

Mark Mwithaga