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Man charged with stealing more than Sh296m from Eastleigh mall, money laundering
Mr Mohamed Osman Abdile.
What you need to know:
- Mr Abdille denied all the 30 charges against him and applied to be released on bond.
An employee at a leading city shopping mall has been charged with stealing over Sh296 million in a span of seven years.
Mohamed Osman Abdile, who also owns private company Fatzam Enterprises Limited (FEL), was arraigned in court on accusation of concealing how he acquired the money held in three bank accounts.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) charged the businessman with money laundering by concealing the source of over Sh116 million held at Kenya Commercial Bank Limited (KCB), Absa Bank and Equity Bank accounts.
In addition, Mr Abdile was indicted for being in possession of more than Sh107 million, believed by police to be proceeds of crime.
The court heard that the accused, through his company Fatzam Enterprises Limited (FEL), transferred the money to other companies and individuals in a bid to conceal its source and cover up that the colossal sums were stolen from Mega Shopping Mall in Eastleigh between January 1, 2018 and February 2025.
Mr Abdille faced 30 counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, stealing by servant, stealing, money laundering and being in possession of proceeds of crime.
The prosecution told the trial magistrate that Mr Abdille stole Sh296 million on diverse dates between 2018 and 2024. He is jointly charged with his company Fatzam Enterprises Limited (FEL) and fellow director Hussein Ibrahim Barre, who did not appear in court for plea taking.
The trial magistrate heard that the money, which was the property of business mogul Abdi Mohamed Ali, came to the possession of Mr Abdille by virtue of his employment.
The court further heard that when he stole the colossal sum, he worked at Mega Shopping Mall.
He's also accused of conspiring to steal the money alongside others who police are yet to arrest for arraignment.
On March 12, 2024 Mr Abdille was found in his possession Sh4.7 million held at his account in KCB Eastleigh Branch. The money was discovered by police in the account registered in the name of Fatzam Enterprises Limited, which is operated by Mr Abdille and Mr Barre.
Both face 17 counts of money laundering and 10 counts of being in possession of proceedings of crime.
Mr Abdille, who denied all the 30 charges against him, applied to be released on bond. The prosecution did not oppose the application.
He was then freed on Sh3 million bond with an alternative cash bail of Sh2 million.
