Vasco Real Estate Director Leah Muthoni Remanded in Custody Over Ksh 9.87M Land Fraud Scandal

Leah Muthoni Mwaura, the director of Vasco Real Estate, has been remanded in custody for two weeks after pleading not guilty to charges of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to section 313 of the Penal Code.

Muthoni appeared before Thika Principal Magistrate Yusuf Baraza, facing accusations that on various dates in 2023, she, alongside others not in court, fraudulently obtained money from two individuals by falsely claiming she was in a position to sell them parcels of land.

According to the charge sheet, Muthoni allegedly obtained Ksh 8,800,000 from Richard Ndichu and Ksh 1,070,000 from Joseph Njoroge by deceitfully claiming she could sell them land in the Makongeni area.

One of the charge sheets stated: “On diverse dates between April 25, 2023, and October 18, 2023, in Thika West Sub-County, Kiambu County, jointly with others not before court, with intent to defraud, obtained from Richard Ndichu Ksh 8,800,000 by falsely pretending that you were in a position to sell him a piece of land within Kwaheri in Makongeni Landless, a fact that you knew to be false.”

Another charge sheet read: “On October 13, 2023, at Thika town within Thika West Sub-County, Kiambu County, jointly with another not in court, with intent to defraud, obtained from Joseph Njoroge Ksh 1,070,000 by falsely pretending that you were in a position to sell him a piece of land, Kiambu/Munyu/4495, approximately 0.039 hectares within the Makongeni Landless area, a fact that you knew to be false.”

The magistrate ordered that Muthoni, who denied all charges, be remanded in custody until March 3, 2025, when the case will be mentioned for consolidation of the charges and consideration of bond terms.

“This file shall be mentioned before Court Number One for consideration of bond terms and further orders. Meanwhile, the accused person shall be remanded in custody. The matter will be mentioned on March 3, 2025, before Court Number One,” Magistrate Baraza ruled.

Also charged alongside Muthoni was Mercy Wangari Mwaura, who was absent from court. Wangari Mwaura faces accusations of obtaining Ksh 8,800,000 from Richard Ndichu Kimani by falsely pretending to sell him a piece of land in the Kwaheri area of Makongeni Landless.