Finance manager charged with conspiracy to defraud Naivas

The suspect Dennis Muchina Thiaka (left) after he denied the charge.

Photo credit: Richard Munguti | Nation Media Group

A finance manager was on Tuesday charged with conspiracy to defraud supermarket chain Naivas over Sh33.8 million.

Dennis Muchina Thiaka, 32, was accused of plotting with others not before the court to fleece the supermarket chain of Sh33,808,985.

The court heard that the fraud was allegedly orchestrated between 2016 and 2020.

Mr Thiaka, an employee of Achievo Company Limited, which offers various services to the supermarket chain including preparing its payroll, denied the charges before Senior Resident Magistrate Jane Kamau.

The prosecution led by Fredrick Kimathi said the suspect committed the offence jointly with others who are yet to be arrested and arraigned.

Mr Thiaka through his lawyer applied to be freed on bond which was not opposed by the prosecution.

“The accused has a young family which depends on him for their daily upkeep. I urge this court to grant him reasonable bail terms,” the lawyer said.

“The offence against the accused is a misdemeanour. No monies were lost as depicted in the charge sheet,” Ms Kamau was told.

In her brief ruling, Ms Kamau said although the amount stated in the charge sheet is colossal, no monies were lost.

“I have considered the submissions of the defence lawyer on bail and that the accused has a young family. Bail is a fundamental constitutional right for suspects charged in court entrenched in the supreme law of the land,” Ms Kamau said.

The magistrate granted the suspect Sh500,000 bail or an alternative of  Sh3 million bond with surety.

She directed the accused to avail one contact person to sign the bail papers for him.

The prosecution was directed to supply the suspect with witness statements to prepare his defence.

The case will be mentioned on November 24 for pre-trial directions.