The Mombasa case concerns an alleged Sh117,450 payment for wedding jewellery.
Mohamed Hussein Ahmed says illness kept him from court as a Mombasa magistrate orders police to verify his medical documents before further orders.
A Mombasa court has ordered the detention of a man accused of obtaining Sh117,450 from a woman who was preparing for her wedding.
Mohamed Hussein Ahmed faces allegations that he took the money after promising to supply a gold wedding ring, gold earrings and a gold necklace.
The complainant, Bierow Umazi, claims Ahmed never delivered the jewellery.
Ahmed has denied the charge.
Mombasa Resident Magistrate Gladys Olimo ordered that he remain at Tononoka Police Station until September 29.
The court directed investigators to verify medical documents Ahmed presented to explain his failure to attend court.
Missed court appearance
Police initially arrested Ahmed and later released him on a Sh10,000 police bond.
Authorities instructed him to appear in court on April 23.
He failed to attend the scheduled hearing.
As a result, Magistrate Olimo issued a warrant for his arrest.
Court records indicate that authorities could not trace Ahmed for several months.
Police rearrested him earlier this month, nearly five months after he missed the court appearance.
When he returned to court, Ahmed said illness had prevented him from attending the proceedings.
The prosecution challenged that explanation and opposed his release on bond.
Prosecutors asked for time to verify the medical documents supporting his claim.
Medical report awaited
Prosecutor Brenda Ogada told the court that the investigating officer had not attended the hearing.
She said the officer had also not submitted the expected report on the medical records.
Ogada requested more time to allow investigators to complete their review.
Magistrate Olimo directed police to investigate Ahmed’s explanation.
She also ordered his continued detention pending further directions from the court.
According to the charge sheet, Ahmed obtained the money at Baroda in Mombasa on various dates between July and September 2025.
Prosecutors allege that he falsely claimed he could supply the jewellery.
They further argue that he knew the representation was untrue.
Ahmed disputes those allegations and maintains his innocence.
The court will issue further directions once investigators complete their inquiry into the medical documents.
Separate tax case before the court
In a separate case, the same magistrate ordered the detention of company director Elephus Gichuri.
Gichuri failed to attend a mention of his tax evasion case last month.
The court also issued an arrest warrant for his co-director, Fredrick Mwenda.
Both men are linked to Karukim, a company facing tax evasion charges.
Gichuri and the company have pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors allege that their actions enabled the release of containers carrying goods worth billions of shillings through the Port of Mombasa without payment of taxes.
The case remains before the court.
