{UAH} Standard Digital News : : The Counties - Tanzanian witchdoctor imprisoned for conning Nairobi woman of Sh9 million

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000122974/tanzanian-witchdoctor-imprisoned-for-conning-nairobi-woman-of-sh9-million

Standard Digital News : : The Counties

Nairobi, Kenya: A self-proclaimed witchdoctorfrom Tanzania and his accomplice will serve three years in jail for de frauding a Nairobi resident of Sh9 million with the promise of riches.

Amos Chipeta and Peter Mwami will be repatriated back to their country after completing their sentences, for lying that they would multiply their client's money.

Senior Principal Magistrate Lucy Mbugua handed them the jail term after they were found guilty of de frauding Catherine Njeri of the colossal sum of money.

The prosecutor informed the court that Chipeta and Mwami, between August and December 2012, obtained Sh9 million from Njeri at their premises along Juja Road by saying that the money would multiply to Sh50 million after three months and quadruple in six months.

The witchdoctors also promised Njeri that they would use magic powers to enable her become rich.

The court heard that after handing over the cash to the witchdoctors, they gave her a box, which she was instructed not to open before three months were over. When the period ended, Njeri opened the box only to find it stuffed with pieces of papers rather than the cash promised by thewitchdoctor.

Moved BASE

Njeri headed straight for the witchdoctors' house to find that the two had moved base to an unknown location a few days earlier.

Njeri reported the incident to the police who laid a trap by sending an officer to pose as a customer.

On February 1 last year, police raided their premises and the two were found with assorted paraphernalia and later charged with being in possession of assorted articles believed to be used in the exercise of witchcraft for the purpose of causing fear, annoyance and injury to the mind.

Chipeta was jailed for three years on the first charge of obtaining money by purporting to have knowledge of witchcraft and six months for being in possession of charms contrary to the law.

His accomplice will serve six months in jail for being in possession of the paraphernalia.

In mitigation, the accused, through their lawyer Stanley Kangahi, pleaded for leniency, saying both had families to take care of. He urged the court to grant the accused non-custodial sentences because they were repentant of the offence.

"The first accused has been in custody for one, and I ask the court to be considerate and not give a harsh sentence," Kangahi said.

The magistrate, however, said the offence was serious as it instilled fear in the community. The two were given 14 days to appeal.

Standard Digital News : : The Counties - Tanzanian witchdoctor imprisoned for conning Nairobi woman of Sh9 million

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/thecounties/article/2000122974/tanzanian-witchdoctor-imprisoned-for-conning-nairobi-woman-of-sh9-million

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