Fake Embu lawyer who conned client Ksh.229K jailed for two years
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A court in Siakago,
Embu County, has sentenced a woman to two years in prison for falsely posing as
an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and defrauding a member of the public.
Jane Kiura was
convicted after the prosecution proved that she impersonated a lawyer and
obtained money by false pretences from a client seeking legal services.
According to
prosecution counsel Fridah Makena, Kiura falsely represented herself as an
advocate of the High Court of Kenya between November 19 and December 2, 2024,
while operating in Siakago town in Mbeere North Sub-County.
The court heard
that Kiura obtained Ksh.229,000 from John Ngari after falsely claiming she was
working under I. Mwai, an advocate and commissioner for oaths. She had promised
to assist Ngari in processing a title deed but failed to deliver the service.
Resident
Magistrate J.N. Githiaga ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond
reasonable doubt, finding Kiura guilty of both impersonating an advocate and
obtaining money by false pretences.
“Therefore, guided
by the applicable law, the principles of sentencing, and the judiciary
sentencing policy guidelines, 2023, I hereby sentence the accused person to pay
a fine of Ksh.100,000; in default, to serve one year imprisonment for the
offense of obtaining money by false pretences and, for the offense of
impersonating an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, to serve two years
imprisonment,” ruled Magistrate Githiaga.
The court also
noted that Kiura had been operating an office as an advocate in Siakago town,
located at Eva Plaza.
In his judgment,
the magistrate acknowledged the role of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) in
addressing cases of individuals masquerading as lawyers and ordered that the
office be closed immediately.
The court directed
the LSK Practice, Ethics and Standards Committee to shut down the office and
confiscate stamps bearing the name of J.I. Mwai, advocate and commissioner for
oaths, which were allegedly being used by the accused.
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