A Nyeri man was Tuesday charged in court with forging registration documents in order to inherit the estate of a man who died childless and without a spouse.
Charles Wanjohi Chomba alias Charles Wanjohi Wathuku is accused of forging his birth certificate and identification card while posing as the son of the late Wathuku Ngure so as to inherit a Sh2 billion estate.
The suspect was charged with seven counts before Senior Resident Magistrate Nelly Kariuki.
The court heard that on November 20, 2006 at the civil registration office in Nyeri, the suspect lied that he was born on December 6, 1968, which he knew to be false.
Mr Chomba was also charged with another count of lying to a public service officer.
In the third count, he was charged with obtaining registration by pretence.
The magistrate heard that on November 24, 2006 at the Kieni East Registrar of Person’s office, with intent to defraud, Mr Chomba obtained a birth certificate with false information.
He committed the offences with the aim of swindling the estate of the deceased which consisted of parcels in Kiganjo, Muhito and Mbuine, all valued at Sh2 billion.
Mr Chomba was also charged with another count of conspiracy to defraud. He allegedly committed the offence together with Ms Lydia Chomba.
Ms Kariuki heard that the two, jointly with others not before court, conspired to defraud the estate of the late Ngure.
Together, they changed the name on the said affidavit and claimed it was written and sworn by the deceased.
In the last count, the court heard that the suspect demanded the deceased’s property after forging documents.
Mr Chomba is also accused of selling a piece of land belonging to the deceased between February 14, 2003 and April 14, 2003.
The court heard that he sold the land for Sh16 million by using letters of administration that he was issued after submitting the false affidavit dated 1992.
The accused denied all the charges against him.
He requested the court to release him on bond saying that the criminal suit against him arose after a succession dispute.
“The charges are a result of a succession dispute before the Court of Appeal which has been ongoing for the last 24 years,” he argued.
He argued that issues surrounding the accused’s identity had been brought up even in the succession case.
The magistrate freed the suspect on a Sh500,000 bond with a surety.
The case will be mentioned on November 25.
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