Seth Steve Okute & Bruno Otieno Orienda Court OKs Sealed Box Opening in Fraud Case

• Seth Steve Okute & Bruno Otieno Orienda

A Nairobi court has authorized the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to open a sealed cash/till box allegedly belonging to Seth Steve Okute & Bruno Otieno Orienda to obtain Sh 12.7 million in a fake gold trade.

A recent development in a case involving alleged fake gold trading sees a Nairobi court grant authorization to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to open a sealed cash/till box purportedly belonging to Seth Steve Okute and Bruno Otieno Orienda.

Background of the Case:

Seth Steve Okute and Bruno Otieno Orienda are facing charges related to obtaining Sh 12.7 million in a fake gold trade. The allegations suggest that the duo falsely represented themselves as capable of paying customs duties for gold shipments from Burkina Faso.

Court’s Decision:

In response to the request by the DCI, the Nairobi Magistrates’ Court has permitted the opening of the sealed cash/till box. The magistrate has specified that the box should be opened in the presence of the accused and allows the use of force if necessary to gain access.

Details of the charges:

The accused are charged with obtaining USD 100,000 (approximately Sh 12.7 million) by falsely pretending that Newsky’s Global Cargo Movers International Limited could pay customs duties for gold shipments. The offense is alleged to have occurred at I&M Bank in Nairobi.

Allegations Against the Accused:

Apart from the charge of obtaining money by false pretense, Okute and Orienda also face conspiracy charges related to the fake gold trade. The prosecution alleges that they conspired to defraud Marjorie R. Grant by falsely representing their ability to pay customs duties.

Timeline of the offense:

The alleged offense took place on November 9, 2022, at I&M Bank in Nairobi. The accused are said to have engaged in fraudulent activities with the intention of defrauding the victim.

Bail Conditions:

Okute and Orienda were released on a cash bail of Sh600,000 each, pending further court proceedings. The bail conditions were set by the court following their arraignment.

The court’s decision to authorize the opening of the sealed cash/till box marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the alleged fake gold trade. It underscores the seriousness with which the authorities are approaching cases of financial fraud.