This archive report was first published on 19 November 2021.
On November 19, 2021, the Assets Recovery Agency began investigating Felesta Nyamathira Njoroge, a student at Nairobi Technical Training Institute, after a sum of Sh102,654,024 was discovered in her Co-operative Bank account.
According to the agency, the large sum was deposited in 4 transactions between August 4 and 6, 2021, into a brand new bank account that was opened mere days before.
Felesta claimed that her Belgian boyfriend, De Mesel Marc, made the deposit as a gift, but the agency suspects that she may be part of a money laundering syndicate involving foreigners.
“Preliminary investigations have established the respondent opened the suspect account for the sole purpose of receiving the said funds which she declared the source to be from “my boyfriend” and the purpose as investing in land projects and safaris,” the affidavit by the assets agency reads.
De Marc has since signed an affidavit, admitting that he sent the money which Felesta was to use as she wishes.
However, the Assets Recovery Agency wants the court to grant orders to freeze the account, citing reasonable grounds to suspect that the funds are illicit and that Felesta is involved in a money laundering scheme.
“Unless this honourable court grants the orders sought, the economic advantage derived from the commission of crimes will continue to benefit a few at the disadvantage of the general public interest,” says the affidavit sworn by investigating officer Fredrick Musyoki.
