Italian national charged over Ksh.165 million Kilifi land fraud

Armando Tanzini was arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) on Wednesday morning at his Vasco da Gama Pillar residence and appeared before Kilifi Chief Magistrate Charles Obulutsa where he denied the charges.

The elderly man was arrested alone but he allegedly committed the offence alongside Pierluigi Caffini and Pijey Investment limited.

The court gave summons for Caffini the other suspect to appear in court or face arrest.

Tanzini was charged that on March 14 1994 at Kilifi Lands registry in Kilifi North Sub County he "jointly fraudulently procured the registration of plot of land number Chembe Kibabamshe/408 valued at Ksh. 165 million by falsely pretending that the land had been transferred to him by Kitsao Mashobo Nyaki (deceased) through his alleged appointed attorney Yaa Baya Bimlingo (deceased) while riding on a forged  power of Attorney dated March 16, 1994. A fact he knew to be false."

The other suspect could not be charged as he was absent in court but is facing accusations of forging a power of attorney for the same parcel of land purporting it to be a genuine document which was drawn and witnessed by Advocate Morris Mwambui Kupalia.

The accused, who was represented by Lawyer Denis Kinaro asked the court to give him a reasonable bond as he was elderly and ailing from a heart problem.

Kinaro said Tanzini was a Kenyan and could not run away as he was representing him and would make sure he appeared in court whenever he was required.

The Magistrate ordered the accused to be released in a surety bond of Sh. 5 million with one surety or Cash bail of Ksh.2 million.

He also ordered the accused to deposit his passports.

The Magistrate also ordered the prosecution to supply the defense with the statements within 14 days and set the case for hearing on December 10 and to be mentioned on October 29.