In Summary
- According to defense lawyer, the accused person acquired the land in 2012
- He said that the complainant changed tune to reclaim the disputed parcel of land when he was dismissed by the organisation
Canadian missionary was today arraigned in court to answer to charges on involvement in Ksh 60 million land fraud in Ngong.
Sheppard Nelson Jason was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina.
According to the prosecution, Jason who runs a children’s home conspired to defraud Jeremiah Muuya Sailoji and Rhoda Ann Baxter of their 6.15 Hactares land located in Kajiado by pretending that he was transferred to him by victims
According to defense lawyer, the accused person acquired the land in 2012 and has developed it extensively making it a home to 85 vulnerable children.
He also submitted that the complainant was at some point an employee in the organisation that the accused person runs until 2020 when the contract was terminated.
He said that the complainant changed tune to reclaim the disputed parcel of land when he was dismissed by the organisation.
While pleading for leniency on behalf of the accused, the lawyer told the court that the accused person is not a man of means and solely relies on the donations of the well-wishers. He added that the incarceration of the accused will adversely affect the 85 children under his care.
“The accused has a fixed abode and has been in the country for more than ten years, he also live with 85 children in the organisation’s premise therefore he cannot escape the jurisdiction of the country,” Defence lawyer submitted.
Defense disputes submissions
However the complainant’s defense disputed the lawyer’s submissions stating that the accused has been non-coperative and is a flight risk his a foreigner.
The trial magistrate however dismissed the alleged witness interference allegations raised by complainant’s lawyer stating that the raised were not justifiable since no supporting affidavit was filed.
“The issues raised by the complainant are unsubstantiated allegations that can only be treated as speculations since no supporting affidavit has been filed to support the same,the accused person is released on ksh 200000 cash bail and one Kenyan contact person,” Magistrate Lucas Onyina ruled.
The accused person was released on a Ksh 200,000 cash bail and one Kenyan contact person as surerity. .Pretrial slated for 9th of June 2023.
By Rodgers Oduor
