A Congolese national, Lumumba Ulundu Patrick, has been charged with defrauding a Chinese company of USD 1 million (Ksh.133.5 million) by promising to supply them with mineral ore, but instead sending them a heap of soil.
Using aliases such as Gabriel Kulonda Ilungu and Lumumba Patrick Byarufu, Patrick allegedly stole the money from Yingchen International Trade Company Limited, promising to deliver 84 metric tonnes of tantalite.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Patrick deceived the company, leading them to believe they were receiving the promised tantalite but instead delivered soil.
“Patrick Lumumba on diverse dates between August 7, 2023, and December 26, 2023, within Nairobi conspired with others who were not before the court to steal one million dollars from Yingchen International Trade Company Limited by falsely pretending that he was in a position to sell to the company 84 metric tonnes of Titanium Niobium ore (Tantalite),” stated the ODPP.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Operations Support Unit (OSU), intercepted part of the fraudulent export at Mombasa Port on January 30, 2024, moments after it arrived from Entebbe, Uganda.
Appearing before Milimani Chief Magistrate Bernard Ochoi, Patrick faced charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and obtaining money by false pretense.
The prosecution sought to have him denied bail, citing him as a flight risk due to his possession of multiple documents and identification cards.
However, Magistrate Ochoi granted Patrick a Ksh.10 million bond with one surety, requiring him to surrender all travel documents.
