Two Real Estate Agents Arrested In Sh15M Rent Fraud

Two employees of Goshens Real Estate are set to face charges for orchestrating a fraud scheme that siphoned over 15 million from their employer for over 18 months.

The two, Judy Muringe Mugo (41) and Catherine Waithera Ruiru (26), a Marketing Officer and Receptionist at the Ruaka-based firm in Kiambu County, reportedly asked tenants to make payments through an unauthorised channel.

By persuading tenants to pay rent directly to a mobile money account, the two effectively bypassed the company’s financial controls.

“After receiving the hundreds of thousands in rent, water bills, and other payable services through the office line, the 41-year-old would then transfer the money to her two personal phone numbers, thereafter transacting through mobile banking to her two accounts held at Family Bank,” DCI stated on Wednesday.

The investigation, initiated following a report from the company’s director on January 23, revealed that Mugo had falsely declared the company’s official pay bill channel and bank account out of use.

She then, in collusion with Ruiru, manipulated the company’s records to conceal the fraud, with Ruiru altering data to show no outstanding tenant dues.

“For doing this, the 26-year-old partner in crime would receive from Judy her unfair share of the stolen amount,” DCI noted.

Fabricated receipts

The inquiry revealed a trail of illicit transactions leading to the marketing officer’s accounts and significant purchases, including a luxury vehicle.

The probe uncovered a transaction where Mugo, on a modest salary of Sh30,000 purchased a Toyota Harrier, later transferring ownership to evade detection.

 “In an effort to defeat justice, Judy (who was released on bail pending completion of investigations) had thereafter transferred the vehicle,” the investigating agency said.

The audit exposed a loss of 15,633,147, with evidence of fabricated Mpesa codes and counterfeit receipts used to deceive tenants.

As the investigation gained pace, the suspects expedited travel arrangements, presumably to escape to Canada.

DCI said it had lined up multiple charges against the suspects including stealing by a servant, conspiracy to defraud, and computer fraud, reflecting the gravity of their alleged misconduct.