In Summary
- Suleiman Osman Noor, who testified before magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi said that the mastermind, Caroline Rukia Ngozi was introduced to him by a friend
- His phone calls to Caroline went unanswered and subsequently switched off
A businessman on Wednesday emotionally narrated before Milimani Law Courts how he was conned Ksh 6.9 million by a lady who purported to be National Hospital Insurance Funds employee.
Suleiman Osman Noor, who testified before magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi said that the mastermind, Caroline Rukia Ngozi was introduced to him by a friend he identified as Ben.
“I did not know Caroline before until a friend of mine called Ben introduced me to him as an employee. I had high expectations that he would help get the tender,” Noor narrated.
He said that his acquaintance Ben, told him that Caroline being an ’employee’ of NHIF was to use her influence to link him to a lucrative Ksh 238 million tender deal with NHIF.
He told the court that on diverse dates between 26th September 2022 and 14th October 2022 Caroline called him to demand money that was to ‘facilitate’ the procurement of the tender.
Being Director of LOPES limited company, the complainant informed the court that he withdrew money from the company’s bank account and gave to Caroline in cash since no records of transactions was needed.
“Caroline told me that she only needed facilitation money in cash, and in all the transactions I withdrew the money and gave in cash,” he added.
According to Noor sometimes he would withdraw from his mobile money account.
In the tail end of the promising deal, Noor said that Caroline introduced a friend ( Rebecca)whom she said was ‘procurement’ officer in NHIF office, he said they demanded Ksh 2.5 million to finalise the deal.
He furnished the court with an email extracts purported to be pre-qualifications from NHIF.
READ ALSO; Ruto Announces The Coming Of Electric Boda Boda To Cushion Operators
Unanswered Calls
After receiving the email, he went to NHIF headquarters to meet the Caroline Rukia and her colleague Rebecca ,but upon arrival he learnt that the duo were not available and not employees of the NHIF.
His phone calls to Caroline went unanswered and subsequently switched off.
“In the last transactions Caroline told me that her friend Rebecca the last in the chain of seniority wanted 2.5 million to share with other staffs, days after I gave them the money when I went to NHIF office I could not find them. My calls to Caroline went unanswered and later her phone was switched off,” he told court.
It was at that point that he reported the matter to Nairobi Central Police Station where the manhunt for Caroline began, she was later arrested and detained.
The prosecution witnesses will present another witness to testify on 17th July 2023.
