Another twist has emerged in the case of a Nairobi student who is under investigation from the Asset Recovery Agency after a large sum of money was discovered in her bank account.
ARA has uncovered that Belgian Marc De Mesel, the crypto billionaire behind the Sh102,654,024 gift to Felesta Nyamathira Njoroge, also wired lump sum amounts to another woman identified as Tebby Wambuku Kago.
De Mesel got wealthy on the blockchain. What is blockchain?, I’m glad you asked. It is the peer to peer network that powers Bitcoin and all other cryptocurrencies.
Tebby was found with two accounts at Equity Bank holding Sh71 million and Sh37 million respectively.
The Assets Recovery Agency moved to court seeking to freeze the funds, saying they are suspected to be proceeds of crime.
It was established that Tebby’s bank account 1750180591737 was opened on February 22, 2021. Marc De Mesel made the deposits amounting to Sh102 million in a span of four days from August 6 to August 10.
The Belgian reportedly sent Sh25,422,175 to the account on August 6, 2021. That is the same day he made double deposits of Sh25,242,756 and Sh25,579,356 to Felesta account number 02100705531800 held at Co-operative Bank.
On August 10, Marc deposited another Sh25,987175, Sh26,552,175 and Sh24,857,175 to Tebby’s account at Equity Bank.
ARA, through principal state counsel Mohamed Adow, said Tebby withdrew Sh825,571.22 from the account on September 28 before transferring Sh5,113,122.31 and another Sh25,565,610.42 to Jane Wangui Kago and Sarah Njoki respectively on October 15.
“The respondents are suspected to be part of a syndicate involved in a complex money-laundering designed to conceal, disguise the nature, source, disposition and movement of the illicit funds suspected to constitute proceeds of crime,” Assets Recovery Agency said in its affidavit.
With a total of Sh31,401,303.53 withdrawn or transferred, the agency sought to have the remaining Sh71 million preserved for possible forfeiture to the state.
This in addition to another Sh5 million held in the account of Felesta at Stanbic Bank.
High Court Elizabeth Maina froze the accounts and certified as urgent an application seeking forfeiture of the funds.
“It is hereby ordered that the preservation orders be and is hereby issued prohibiting the respondents and/or their representatives, employees, agents, servants or any other persons acting on their behalf from transacting, withdrawing, transferring and/or dealing in any manner howsoever in respect of funds and any profits or benefits derived or accrued from the funds held in the three accounts,” Justice Maina said.
The freeze order will remain in force for 90 days.
