A Mombasa lawyer has been charged with stealing over 17.5 million from one of her clients.
Sheila Nkatha Muthee was arraigned before Mombasa senior resident magistrate Rita Orora and pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing and issuance of a bad cheque.
The court heard that the flamboyant lawyer stole the money which was part of Ksh52 million which were part of proceeds realized from the sale of property of the said crispy Ltd ( complainant) which she had received by her firm on account of the crispy Ltd.
The offence was committed on diverse dates between February 17,2024 and July 23rd 2024 at Mvita Subcounty within the republic of Kenya.
Muthee was additionally slapped with ten counts of issuing a bad cheque contrary to section 316 A (1)of the penal code.
The court heard that muthee issued the first cheque on July 18 2024 being a partner manager of the Muthee and partners company issued co-operative Bank cheque of kshs900,000 to the account of Osman Mohamud Mohamed knowing that the said Account had insufficient funds.
She pleaded not guilty to all ten counts of issuing a bad cheque to Mohamed.
Her lawyer Gitahi Gathu requested the court to release the suspect on reasonable bond terms ,claiming that she was a friend of state agencies and would abide by the terms issued by the court.
“She is a well known person within Mombasa since she practices and resides in Mombasa she is also conversant with the rule of law and as such l request the court to have her released on reasonable bond terms”, he stated.
However the state through prosecution counsel Yassir Mohamed informed the court that the bond terms should commiserate the money which she allegedly stole from her clients.
“There is a missing 17.5 million which was stolen by the counsel , although the state is not opposed on her release on bond let the terms be equivalent to the money that has been stolen ,”stated the state counsel.
The court directed the matter to be mentioned tomorrow 22nd of November 2024 for bond ruling. Sheila Nkatha Muthee has been on the neck of many Mombasa court journalists who cover court cases threatening to sue them for covering any case involving her clients in Court.
Written By: Bragin Maina.