A 39-year-old Cameroonian national identified as Abel Takie Atan has been charged in court for defrauding a 31-year-old court assistant ksh1.1 million.
Abel is accused of colluding with Betty Cherono's boyfriend who is only identified as Fredrick, whom she met on a dating site, to defraud her the amount.
According to court papers in our possession, Abel who was introduced to Cherono by Fredrick is alleged that between May 28, 2020 and September 25 2020 in Nairobi, jointly with another not before court with intent to defraud obtained ksh1.1 million from Cherono in pretenses that he would assist her in opening an account with ESCROW bank and that he would be able to secure a loan of ksh7 million for her.
Facts surrounding the matter according to police report seen by K24 Digital are that in early May 2020 Cherono was browsing the internet when she came across a dating site called Tagged. She got interested in it and in the process met one Fredrick whom they began communicating with.
They later went to ESCROW bank and told her he would secure her a loan of ksh7 million. She gave him ksh 1.1 million.
Cherono, a mother of one who is a court assistant at Milimani law courts states that she was using the dating site to find a partner since she needed one. That she then met Fredrick on the site and become good friends.
"After a week of texting, Fredrick invited me to his house where we spent time together and consolidated our friendship. Fredrick introduced himself as a Cameroonian and that he was in Kenya for internship. I disclosed my carrier and told him I was employed, " Cherono said in her statement.
After a month of communication, Abel allegedly called her and informed her that he was locked in Kilimani police station and that he needed ksh30,000 for bail.
"I sent him a total of ksh32,700 through MPESA," Cherono said.
He later allegedly cautioned her not to visit his house claiming he didn't want her involved in the case.
The Cameroonian, in his statement says that he came to Kenya in 2019 and that in 2020, he started a small business of buying Masaai slippers and bags.
He admits he met Betty through a friend called Fredrick at his house in kawangware and they exchanged contacts.
Fredrick is believed to be still at large according to police report
Abel pleaded not guilty before Nairobi Principal magistrate Bernard Ochoi and was released on a cash bail of ksh200,000.
