A Nairobi court has issued a directive for the primary suspect in a fraudulent gold deal worth Sh 1 billion to make a court appearance and formally respond to charges of possessing counterfeit currency.
Joseph Lendrix Waswa, the central figure in the case, has been instructed to be present in court on October 9, where he will enter his plea regarding the possession of forged banknotes totaling USD 634,178, equivalent to Sh 93,477,837.
The Milimani Chief Magistrate, Susan Shitubi, has specifically ordered Waswa to attend the court session in person to address the criminal allegations.
However, it has been reported by law enforcement that Waswa, believed to be the mastermind behind a recent counterfeit gold scheme that involved a Tunisian national, is currently indisposed.
The suspect is anticipated to contest these charges, having provided a statement to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at their Nairobi headquarters on September 21, 2023.
When the court clerk summoned Waswa’s case for plea-taking, his legal representative, June Ashioya, informed the magistrate that the accused was absent due to health issues.
Ashioya elaborated, saying, “The DCI recorded his statement on Thursday, and he fell ill afterward. He was subsequently taken to a Nairobi hospital, where he received treatment and was advised to undergo three days of bed rest. This morning, he consulted his doctor again, received further treatment, and was instructed to rest for an additional two weeks. Given these circumstances, we respectfully request the court to postpone the plea for 14 days, during which time he will be able to present himself on a date determined by the court.”
In response to this request, the court ordered Waswa to appear in person on October 9, 2023, to address the charges brought against him by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Joseph Lendrix Waswa, aged 35, is already facing a range of charges related to widespread fraud, including allegations of murder.
In 2014 and 2015, Waswa was apprehended on suspicion of murdering Mitch Kibiti, the son of the former Bungoma County Education Chief Officer, David Kibiti. This incident occurred after a dispute at his Etonia Club in Kimilili. Waswa was arrested while attempting to flee to Nairobi, with his arrest taking place in Kisumu.
Another incident involving Waswa took place in 2015 when he caused a scene at the Bungoma Law Courts by arriving with ten “bodyguards.” This unconventional act led to the intervention of the Flying Squad officers, who subsequently detained all ten bodyguards, though they were later released.
Waswa was also implicated in a criminal group that used a mimicry of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s voice to defraud the late businessman Nashaud Merallli, compelling him to part with Sh10 million for a fraudulent land deal.
