Three jailed eight years each for Sh47m Barclays Bank theft

What you need to know:

  • Cashier Peter Muguro and his accomplices Robert Wanjau and Christopher Maina were found guilty of handling stolen money.

  • Mr Julius Rimiri, who was a custodian of the key to the bank’s strong room, was acquitted alongside Mr Muguro’s wife Ms Consolata Wangui and one John Baptista Githaiga.

  • Ms Wangui had been charged with giving false information to police.

Three suspects accused of stealing Sh47 million from Barclays Bank Nanyuki seven years ago have been jailed for eight years each.

Nanyuki Chief Magistrate Lucy Mutai on Tuesday handed the jail term to bank cashier Peter Muguro and his accomplices Robert Wanjau and Christopher Maina after they were found guilty of handling stolen money.

ACQUITTALS

Mr Julius Rimiri, who was a custodian of the key to the bank’s strong room, was acquitted alongside Mr Muguro’s wife Ms Consolata Wangui and one John Baptista Githaiga.

Ms Wangui had been charged with giving false information to police.

Five suspects had been charged with robbery with violence, for allegedly robbing a bank guard of Sh47million on April 13, 2011.

The court acquitted all the suspects on the robbery charges but convicted them on the alternative charge of handling stolen property.

During the hearing, the prosecution told the court how detectives recovered Sh10million of the stolen money from Mr Muguro, Sh1.9million from Wanjau and Sh2.6million from Mr Maina a week after the crime was committed.

Ms Wangui was charged with giving false information to police officers. It was said that a few hours after the robbery, she went to Nanyuki Police Station and reported that her husband had been kidnapped by four unknown people.

While delivering the judgment, Ms Mutai noted that the money was stolen from the bank but that there wasn't sufficient evidence to directly link the suspects to the crime committed by hooded men at about 3am on that day.

On October 8, the court will give directions on whether the recovered money, which was used as an exhibit, will be forfeited to the State or surrendered to the bank.