A Kisumu court found Christopher Okal, Grace Okal and Victor Anyumba guilty over diverted customer payments and goods at Such Enterprises Limited.
A court has convicted three family members in a Sh113.2 million Kisumu business fraud case involving Such Enterprises Limited. The case centred on the diversion of customer payments and wholesale goods from the company.
Senior Principal Magistrate Fatuma Rashid found Christopher Okal, Grace Okal and Victor Anyumba guilty on all counts they faced. Principal Prosecution Counsel Douglas Moseti led the prosecution.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said the company’s records failed to account for Sh113,227,529. The offences occurred on various dates between October 2020 and July 2021.
How the Kisumu business fraud scheme worked
Christopher Okal worked as an accountant at Such Enterprises Limited. The prosecution identified him as the central figure in the scheme, citing his access to company accounts.
Evidence showed that he created fictitious transactions and redirected customer payments into bank and mobile money accounts associated with his co-accused. He also used his access privileges to alter records and conceal transactions.
Meanwhile, customers received instructions to pay for goods through accounts linked to the three accused, rather than official company accounts. An audit report also identified Sh113.2 million that the business could not account for.
To establish the movement of funds, prosecutors called company employees, customers and bank officials as witnesses. Forensic examiners and investigating officers also gave evidence, including findings from document examinations.
Court rejects defence explanation
The three maintained that the transactions formed part of legitimate business arrangements. However, Rashid rejected that explanation and found that the evidence established a coordinated fraud scheme.
The magistrate accepted the prosecution’s argument that Christopher masterminded the operation. She also found that he used accounts associated with Grace and Anyumba to receive payments and obscure the money’s movement.
The court further found Grace and Anyumba guilty of involvement in theft and money laundering linked to the diverted payments.
Charges and sentencing date
The charges included conspiracy to commit a felony under Section 393 of the Penal Code. They also covered money laundering and acquisition and possession of crime proceeds under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Christopher faced additional charges of stealing by servant, fraudulent false accounting and stealing. After weighing both sides’ evidence, Rashid entered convictions under Section 215 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The ODPP said the court had scheduled sentencing for October 29, 2026.
