Man charged with posing as Mombasa County official to defraud foreigner of Sh4.9 million

Man charged with posing as Mombasa County official to defraud foreigner of Sh4.9 million - Shanzu Law Courts, where a man accused of obtaining Sh4.9 million from a foreigner through a fake plot-leasing deal appeared and denied four charges. (Photo: The Judiciary Kenya)

Arigi faces four charges, including impersonation, forgery and refusing to have his fingerprints taken, as the court awaits a probation report on his bail application.

A man accused of posing as a Mombasa County government official to defraud a foreigner of Sh4.9 million in a plot-leasing deal has been charged with obtaining money through false pretences.

Ernest Arigi, alias Charles, appeared before Shanzu Magistrate Robert Mbogo, where he denied the charges stemming from an alleged fraud scheme that prosecutors say was carried out between 2023 and 2025 in Mombasa County.

According to the charge sheet, Arigi allegedly obtained the money from Hananel Adini by falsely claiming that he worked for the county government and could use his position to help him secure a plot lease.

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Prosecutors allege that Arigi knew the claims were false but used them to convince Adini to part with the money.

Arigi faces three additional charges, including impersonation of a person in public service and making false documents.

In the second count, he is accused of falsely presenting himself, alongside another person who has not been brought before the court, as a Mombasa County Government employee capable of facilitating the leasing of plots.

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The charge is contrary to Section 105 of the Penal Code, which deals with impersonation in the public service.

In the third count, Arigi is accused of making false documents with intent to defraud, contrary to Section 347(a), as read with Section 349 of the Penal Code.

The charge sheet lists the documents as an approval for the lease of Plot No. Mombasa/Mwembelegeza/M/1023, a bidding document bearing reference No. CGM/LH&SUP/BM 1023/2022-2025, and a county government acknowledgement relating to construction development on Plot No. Mombasa/Nyali/MN/251.

The prosecution alleges that the documents were presented as genuine records issued by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the county government to facilitate the leasing of a plot to Adini, despite allegedly being fraudulent.

Arigi also faces a fourth charge of refusing to permit the taking of his fingerprints, according to the case details.

During the court appearance, prosecutor Mazrui Nadrat asked the court to obtain a probation report before determining whether the accused should be released on bond or cash bail.

Arigi was remanded in custody pending further directions on his bail application.