Three men, two Kenyans and a Tanzanian, have been charged with defrauding a Nairobi couple over Sh2 million after convincing them that they could drive out evil spirits from their land.
Titus Fedha, Haji Shariff and Suleiman Salum, the Tanzanian, allegedly obtained Sh2 million by claiming that a piece of land Harbans Singh intended to sell had evil spirits.
According to the police report, the trio claimed that the land had a snake and other witchcraft paraphernalia, including cowry shells, gourds, black powders and assorted clothing.
The report also indicated the accused claimed that the witchcraft paraphernalia required cleansing by burning the snake and dumping the ashes into the Indian Ocean.
In a second count, the accused were charged with cheating Singh on June 21, at 16 Red Hill Garden, Nairobi over another parcel of land.
In another count, the accused were charged with conspiring to defraud Singh Sh280,000, again to exorcise evil spirits from land.
Allegedly, the three visited the residence of the complainant with a briefcase containing a snake and other paraphernalia.
They convinced Singh and his wife to part with the money for buying special oil to burn the snake, after which the suspects disappeared.
Police said that a search conducted at the house of Haji Shariff in Kileleshwa managed to recover a suitcase containing witchcraft paraphernalia.
The three denied charges before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi and were released on a Sh300,000 cash bail each.
The case will be heard on September 26.
