Three people charged with fraud in an Eldoret court yesterday denied that they attempted to defraud a businessman of trees worth Sh60 million belonging to the late Nicholas Biwott.

One suspect, Solomon Kiptanui, allegedly pretended to be the late Biwott’s son and told businessman Ibrahim Kassim that he was in charge of the land in Keiyo South constituency.

The other suspects Margaret Jepchirchir and Milkah Cheruto are accused of conspiring with workers at Maria Soti farm to convince Kassim that Kiptanui was Biwott’s heir.

Kassim says he paid Sh3 million of the agreed Sh60 million.

Eldoret Chief Magistrate Charles Obulutsa rescheduled the case to October 9 because Kassim was not present and was instead represented by his lawyer Waziri Omollo.

The suspects are accused of conspiring to con Kassim out of Sh3 million on July 13 by saying they would sell to him pine trees on 300 acres belonging to Biwott.

Biwott died on July 11 and was buried in Elgeyo Marakwet county on July 20.

In court papers, Kassim said he realized he was being conned after paying Sh3 million to Kiptanui.

He became supicious because he was not allowed to harvest the trees he had been shown.

“Despite several pleas, he refused to allow me to harvest the trees as he had promised,” Kassim said.

Because of delays, he started investigating and found that Kiptanui was not Biwott’s son.

The three are accused of the offense on diverse dates last month.

Obulutsa ordered that each of the accused be released on a Sh1 million bond. They could not raise the bond and remained in remand.

Famously known as The Total Man, Biwott served in the government of Kenya’s first two Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi.

He was one of the richest men in Kenya, very influential and secretive. He had investments in almost all sectors, including mining, tourism, real estate, air transport, telecommunications, agriculture, construction and energy.

MATHEWS NDANYI/The Star

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