This archive report was first published on 12 July 2019.
On July 12, 2019, a Nairobi court arraigned Paul Kobia, a businessman, and 15 of his employees over a fake gold scandal.
According to the prosecution, Kobia and his employees conspired to deceive Antonio Cianci from Dubai by selling him fake gold nuggets.
Prosecutors alleged that between April 23 and 25, 2019, Kobia and his employees used the trading names Duaf International Limited and Malca Amit Limited to sell the fake gold at a plot along Riverside Drive in Kileleshwa.
The 15 employees, including Simon Wainaina, Paul Gichuhi, and Tanya Yvonne, were also charged with preparation to commit felony.
During their arrest, police recovered fake gold nuggets, smelting pots, metal tongs, and X-Ray fluorescence spectrometers.
Paul Kobia and Tanya Yvonne are accused of obtaining Ksh. 14 million from Antonio by falsely pretending they could supply real gold for sale.
Paul Kobia faces six additional charges of forging stamps contrary to the laws of Kenya.
On Friday, the suspects appeared before Magistrate Martha Mutuku and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The Magistrate directed that Kobia be released upon meeting the Ksh. 3 million bond condition or an alternative Ksh. 2 million cash bail.
Other suspects were released on cash bail of Ksh. 100,000 each.
The case will be heard on August 3, 2019.
