A man has been charged before the Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court in Nairobi for allegedly stealing Ksh 717,111 from an Absa Bank account held by Aknotela Limited, a company associated with Esther Akothee Kokeyo.
The accused, identified as Simon Kipngetich Tonui, is facing 12 counts of theft, with the alleged incidents occurring between August 7 and September 15, 2023.
The charges against Tonui are outlined as follows:
1. Theft of Visa Business Debit Card: The charge sheet presented on Monday, August 7, 2023, alleges that Tonui stole an Absa Bank Kenya Limited Visa Business Debit Card valued at Ksh 460, belonging to Esther Akoth Kokeyo.
2. Multiple ATM Withdrawals: In count two, Tonui is accused of making unauthorized withdrawals from an Absa Bank account registered under Aknotela Limited. It is reported that he withdrew Ksh 264,000 using an ATM within Nairobi on various dates between August 7 and September 13.
3. Additional Withdrawals: Counts three and four state that on August 8 and 9, Tonui withdrew Ksh 44,000, and on August 31, he withdrew Ksh 40,000 from the same account.
4. Continued Withdrawals: The prosecution claims that between September 4 and 14, Tonui further withdrew Ksh 269,111 from the Aknotela Limited account.
5. ATM Lobby Theft: The charge sheet also states that on September 15, 2023, at Absa Bank Kenya Limited’s Umoja Mutindwa Automated Teller Machine (ATM) lobby within Nairobi County, Tonui allegedly stole Ksh 100,000 from Absa Bank Kenya in the name of Aknotela Ent Limited, which is the property of Aknotela Ent Limited.
During his appearance before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, Tonui pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts.
The court has released him on a Ksh 600,000 bond with one surety or an alternative Ksh 300,000 cash bail with one contact person. The mention date for the case has been scheduled for October 30.
Akothee says she’s very disappointed with ABSA Bank.
“I just wonder if a whole institution like ABSA Can handle their Premium client like this with a relationship manager,how about the rest?” She asks.
The charges brought against Simon Kipngetich Tonui reflect the seriousness of financial crimes and the legal consequences that individuals may face when accused of such offenses.
The legal proceedings will continue as the case unfolds, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft from Aknotela Limited’s Absa Bank account.