3 Chinese nationals accused of defrauding their fellow Chinese investor 320 million after failing to supply gypsum ceiling board production lines were on Wednesday (December, 7) incarcerated in Waita GK prison.
Le Chuan Chen, Le Lei Chen, and Qi Zhao were remanded after they failed to pay Ksh. 2 million bond terms set by the Mwingi Court.
Appearing before the Mwingi Principal Magistrate Ismael Ruhu, after a Chinese interpreter was found, the three Chinese nationals denied the charges against them. They were ordered to deposit a bond of 2 million in addition to the same amount as a surety and also give out their passports to the court.
In a deal gone sour, the three entered a deal with Ederman Properties Kenya a company manufacturing gypsum boards in the Mutwangombe area in Mwingi to supply gypsum ceiling boards production line in July 2020. After they were paid the whole amount they disappeared. The three later came two years later with a different type of machine contrary to what they had agreed.
The three suppliers, who run a firm by the name of Teng Fei, were required to deposit their passports with their clients until the transaction was completed to their satisfaction, according to the agreement between the trio and the company, which was witnessed by the Chinese embassy in Nairobi.
By giving over their passports, the management of Erdemann properties was able to apply for their visas and work permits with the Kenyan Immigration Department, allowing them to be employed at the factory while the manufacturing machinery was being tested.
The three were arrested on Monday, (December, 5) and taken to custody before they were taken to court today (Wednesday,7).
Mwingi sub-county police commander Peter Mutuma confirmed that the trio was arrested due to failing to supply gypsum machines worth k320 million which were to be imported from China. The three were accused by Zeyun Yang who is the Managing Director of Erdermann Properties Kenya of giving false accusations to the police that they were forcefully detained by the company.
The Magistrate further mandated that the accused report to the Mwingi Directorate of Criminal Investigation Officer (DCI) every three weeks. If they cannot do so, they may go to any DCI office with Mwingi DCI’s permission. The mention of their case will be on 21st December 2022.
