A Nairobi man was on Monday 15 April 2026 arraigned before the Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court and charged with multiple criminal offences, including cyber-dependent fraud, forgery, and uttering a false document, in connection with an alleged scheme to transfer ownership of a luxury motor vehicle through unlawful access to an eCitizen account.
Christopher M. Munene appeared before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina to answer five criminal counts preferred by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The charges arise from an alleged dispute surrounding ownership of a Toyota Prado motor vehicle.
According to the prosecution, Munene is accused of unlawfully accessing the eCitizen account of the complainant, Maureen Tabitha Mutinda, on September 24, 2024, by bypassing security measures.
The State alleges that upon gaining unauthorized access, he manipulated records within the system and facilitated the transfer of ownership of the vehicle from the complainant, who is said to be the lawful owner.
The prosecution further alleges that between January 25, 2023, and September 30, 2024, the accused, jointly with other persons not before the court, forged a motor vehicle registration certificate bearing serial number N5797880L.
It is alleged that the document falsely indicated that the vehicle belonged to ROCX Crest Group Limited while purporting it to be a genuine logbook issued by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).
In a separate count, the accused is charged with uttering a false document, the State alleging that he knowingly presented the purported logbook to Mogo Auto Limited’s Nairobi Central Business District branch with intent to deceive.
During plea taking, defence counsel Eric Muriuki applied for deferment of the plea, informing the court that the dispute stemmed from matrimonial property issues between the parties.
Counsel submitted that negotiations aimed at resolving the matter amicably were ongoing and urged the court to temporarily halt the criminal proceedings to allow the parties an opportunity to pursue an out-of-court settlement. The application was not opposed by counsel holding brief for the complainant.
The prosecution, however, opposed the request, arguing that no sufficient legal basis had been established to warrant deferment of the plea.
State counsel submitted that the offences disclosed in the charge sheet were criminal in nature and constituted alleged violations of the law that could not be suspended merely because discussions were taking place between the parties.
In a brief ruling, Chief Magistrate Onyina declined the defence application, holding that no compelling grounds had been advanced to justify delaying the plea-taking process.
The court consequently directed that the criminal proceedings proceed in the ordinary course.
The accused was admitted to a bond of KSh 200,000 with an alternative cash bail of KSh 100,000.
The court further directed that the matter be placed before Court No. 6 and scheduled it for mention on July 1, 2026, for further
