Canadian National Freed After Out-of-Court Deal With American Citizen He Had Scammed Sh46 Million

US tech consultant withdraws fraud charges following family mediation

NAIROBI, Kenya – A Canadian national accused of defrauding an American tech consultant of Sh46 million walked free from Milimani Law Courts yesterday after the complainant withdrew charges in a dramatic turn of events.

Philip William Knight, who had been facing multiple fraud charges, was released after Casey Drew Cian told Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego that he wanted to drop the case following negotiations with Knight’s family.

“At this juncture, I have decided to withdraw the case after having discussions with the family as they put in a plea and taking time to look through where I am in life and what I’d actually like to do going forward, it’s in my best interest to withdraw the case,” Cian told the court.

The case, which had gripped the business community, involved allegations that Knight had obtained USD 357,300 (approximately Sh46 million) from Cian between September and October 2024. The prosecution had alleged that Knight falsely claimed he could invest Cian’s money profitably in projects including the World Food Programme and Sunshine Minerals Limited.

**The Elaborate Scheme**

According to court documents, Knight had approached Cian with what appeared to be lucrative investment opportunities. The Canadian national, who operates as manager of Sunshine Minerals Canada Limited, allegedly promised substantial returns on investments in gold trading and women empowerment projects in Kenya.

The fraud unfolded in stages, with Knight initially receiving $25,000 at Connect Coffee on September 27, 2024, for which he signed an acknowledgment note. He later convinced Cian to contribute to a charity project supposedly aimed at empowering Kenyan women, offering him a position as project manager of what he claimed was a World Food Programme initiative.

The scheme escalated when Knight introduced Cian to gold trading, requesting $525,000 and signing a deposit collaboration agreement. Through his long-term partner Dr. William B. Woodward, who wired $281,000 from his Wells Fargo Bank account, Cian eventually paid a total of $357,300 for projects that were never delivered.

**Legal Proceedings**

Knight had been charged with obtaining money by false pretenses and forgery. During his March court appearance, he had denied being a flight risk, telling Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina: “I am a resident of Nairobi, married to a Kenyan… my wife is in court and my brothers-in-law are here to prove that I cannot run away from my family.”

The prosecution, led by Joyce Olajo, had initially sought to detain Knight for 10 days to complete investigations, including recording statements from Dr. Woodward and conducting forensic analysis of the suspect’s cellphones. The court had instead remanded him at Kilimani Police Station and set his bond at Sh1 million.

**Questions Remain**

The sudden withdrawal of charges raises questions about the nature of the out-of-court settlement and whether Cian recovered any of his money. Legal experts note that while complainants can withdraw private prosecutions, the Director of Public Prosecutions retains the right to continue with cases involving public interest.

The case highlights the vulnerability of foreign investors to sophisticated fraud schemes in Kenya’s business environment and underscores the importance of due diligence in international business transactions.

Knight’s release comes at a time when Kenyan authorities are intensifying efforts to combat financial fraud, particularly schemes targeting foreign investors and diaspora communities.

*The case was marked as withdrawn on July 15, 2025, bringing an end to what could have been one of the year’s most significant fraud trials.*