NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 25 – A man has been charged with stealing Sh450 million worth of Shell Helix lubricants from Vivo Energy Kenya between June 1, 2010 and March 31, 2013.
The 38-year-old Peter Nyoike Kariuki however denied being part of the 13-man gang that stands accused of the theft of the lubricants while on transit from Mombasa to Nairobi.
“Together with others not before court, on diverse dates between June 1, 2010 and March 31, 2013 the accused stole lubricants that belonged to Vivo Energy Kenya Limited,” the charge sheet reads.
Kariuki also stands accused of knowingly handling and dealing in stolen goods; charges he also denied.
Chief Magistrate Hannah Ndung’u released Kariuki on bail and directed that the case against the accused be heard not at the Milimani Law Courts but in Mombasa.
This followed an application by Kariuki’s lawyer who argued that it would make more sense as his 12 co-accused are currently being held in the coastal city.
He also argued that the majority of the witnesses were based in Mombasa and would therefore be inconvenienced should they be obliged to give testimony in Nairobi.
The case against Kariuki will now be heard on March 27 in conjunction with the cases against his co-accused.
