Lawyer fined Sh2m for Sh63m theft attempt

What you need to know:

  • Omwakwe was charged with forging a bank cheque and attempted theft. The lawyer, who has been in practice for 10 years, was treated as a first offender.
  • She went to Equity Bank on September 19, 2012 with a forged cheque leaf for Sh62,860,000 purportedly drawn by the National Irrigation Board for payment of land leased to the board by members of a non-existent group, Makueni Land Owners Association.
  • She said she found Ms Omwakwe guilty as charged and equally rejected a plea to grant her a non-custodial sentence as the offence was serious. She forged the cheque No.001922, an offence committed on or before September 17 2012.

A lawyer who tried to steal Sh63 million from a local bank has been ordered to pay a fine of Sh2 million or spend two-and-a-half years in jail.

Nairobi Chief Magistrate Hannah Ndung’u tore into the conduct of the accused, Susan Joyce Omwakwe of  Omwakwe and Associates, saying her behaviour fell short of expectations.

“Advocates of the High Court are supposed to be people of integrity but unfortunately you have failed,” Ms Ndung’u said while convicting the accused.

She said evidence was overwhelming as witnesses were able to link the lawyer to the alleged offences.

Omwakwe was charged with forging a bank cheque and attempted theft. The lawyer, who has been in practice for 10 years, was treated as a first offender.

She went to Equity Bank on September 19, 2012 with a forged cheque leaf for Sh62,860,000 purportedly drawn by the National Irrigation Board for payment of land leased to the board by members of a non-existent group, Makueni Land Owners Association.

“As standard procedure the bank inquired from the board in respect of the transaction and it responded in the negative...indeed the board denied knowledge of any such lease. Also, there was no organisation known as Makueni Land Owners,” the magistrate said.

She said she found Ms Omwakwe guilty as charged and equally rejected a plea to grant her a non-custodial sentence as the offence was serious. She forged the cheque No.001922, an offence committed on or before September 17 2012.