Chief faces fraud charges in Taita Taveta

A chief in Wundanyi, Taita Taveta County has been charged with attempting to defraud a businessman. PHOTO | GOOGLE MAPS

A chief in Taita Taveta County was on Tuesday arraigned in court for allegedly extorting Sh1.8 million from a businessman.

Kishushe chief Joseph Mchalongo Meso was charged with conspiring to defraud Muhummud Bulle Gura.

According to the charge sheet, the chief alongside Granton Mwambela, Gerishon Mwadime and Sylvia Majala conspired to defraud Mr Gura between February and May of 2017 in Kishushe, Wundanyi.

Mr Meso pleaded not guilty and was released on a bond of Sh1 million.

Hearing of the case begins on March 13.

The other suspects pleaded guilty and will appear in court again Wednesday morning.

The four were among individuals who were being investigated by police for signing an illegitimate lease that saw the herder loose his money.

The administrator together with 25 others posed as members of Kishushe Ranching and Cooperative Society Limited and negotiated with the herder for allocation of grazing land within the 60 000 acre ranch in Kishushe.

The suspects were arrested on Monday and spent the night at Wundanyi Police Station.