Ugandan car dealer remanded for jumping bail
What you need to know:
- Mr Bazaar is charged with defrauding William Arusei Sh2.4 million by pretending he would import for him a Toyota Prado from Japan
- The judge rejected an application by Mr Bazaar for his bail to be reduced.
He had asked the judge to reduce the Sh2.5 million cash bail, saying “it was punitive.”
A judge has cancelled a Sh2.5 million cash bail granted to a car dealer accused of defrauding a city lawyer of Sh2.4 million.
Justice Luka Kimaru directed Thomas Bazaar, a Ugandan national, to remain in custody until the fraud case is heard and determined by the Makadara Chief Magistrate.
Mr Bazaar is charged with defrauding William Arusei of Sh2.4 million by pretending he would import for him a Toyota Prado from Japan.
He had asked the judge to reduce the Sh2.5 million cash bail, saying “it was punitive”, but the judge rejected the application.
“The accused is a flight risk and from his previous conduct cannot be trusted to attend court if released on bond pending trial,” said the judge.
The judge also declined to order the case be transferred from Makadara to Milimani, saying “no persuasive reasons were given. The trial is yet to begin and Mr Bazaar cannot allege he would not get [a] fair trial.”
Justice Kimaru said the accused, while in prison custody, will be escorted to a Kiambu court, where he has a pending fraud case.
Six arrest warrants had been issued against the car dealer in the Kiambu case after he jumped bail.
“I have perused the Kiambu court file where I established the accused was charged on April 15, 2013 and released on a cash bail of Sh60,000 which he paid,” Justice Kimaru said.
He said the accused jumped bail and disappeared before the case began.
