Nairobi Court Hears How Mega Mall Employee Allegedly Stole Sh296 Million

In a Nairobi court on Tuesday, state prosecutors charged Mohamed Osman Abdille, an employee of Mega Shopping Mall in Eastleigh, with stealing and laundering millions belonging to the mall’s owner.

Abdille, who is also a director of Fatzam Enterprises Limited (FEL), is accused of siphoning Sh296,069,084 belonging to the mall’s owner, businessman Abdi Mohamed Ali, between January 1, 2018, and September 2024.

Authorities jointly charged him with his company, Fatzam Enterprises Limited (FEL), and a fellow director, Hussein Ibrahim Barre, who did not appear in court for plea taking.

According to the prosecution, the money first passed through accounts that Abdille and his company controlled before being transferred to other firms and individuals in what investigators described as a deliberate attempt to conceal its origin.

Court documents show that investigators traced more than Sh116 million to FEL accounts held at Absa Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), and Equity Bank Limited. In addition, authorities indicted Abdille for possessing over Sh107 million, which police believe to be proceeds of crime.

On March 12, 2024, investigators allegedly found Sh4,759,029 sitting in an FEL account at KCB Eastleigh Branch.

Prosecutors say the money was part of the stolen funds and that the accused had retained it in the account despite it being proceeds of crime.

As the alleged scheme expanded, the accused converted some of the money into foreign currency and routed it through what the prosecution termed “commercial cover transactions.”

On August 20, 2024, at Absa Bank Eastleigh Branch, Abdille and Barre allegedly arranged a payment of $8,300 (Sh1,070,700) to Arabian Milling & Food Company, claiming they were purchasing spaghetti.

Prosecutors told the court the transaction was a smokescreen and that the accused knew the money was part of the stolen Sh296 million from Abdi Mohamed Ali (proprietor of Mega Shopping Mall).

Similar transactions followed. On September 18, 2024, the accused allegedly concealed $55,700 (Sh7,185,300) and $55,650 (Sh7,187,850), and on November 4, 2024, another $19,790 (Sh2,552,910), again claiming they were using the funds to import spaghetti.

Investigators also traced large local transfers. The court heard that the accused sent Sh32,252,500 to Gigi International Limited, with another Sh1 million transferred on July 1, 2024.

On July 2, 2020, the accused allegedly wired Sh10.6 million to Marray and Sons Venture Limited, Sh990,000 to Ahmed Jelle Abdille, and Sh1,270,578 to Ada Food Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited.

Prosecutors said the accused designed all the transfers to break the money trail and disguise the proceeds of theft.

Further, on December 28, 2024, Abdille and Barre allegedly transferred Sh650,000 to Hussein Ibrahim Barre.

On July 1, 2020, prosecutors accused them of retaining Sh45 million in an FEL account at Equity Bank Eastleigh Branch, fully aware it was proceeds of crime.

The final count states that on February 19, 2025, the accused held Sh2,749,998 in an Equity Bank account, knowing it was stolen money.

Abdille faces 30 counts, including conspiracy to commit a felony, stealing by servant, money laundering, and being in possession of proceeds of crime.

Authorities jointly charged him with Fatzam Enterprises Limited and Barre, who is yet to be arraigned.

He denied all the charges and applied for release on bond, saying he would attend court to face trial. The prosecution did not oppose the application.

The magistrate released Abdille on a bond of Sh3 million or an alternative cash bail of Sh2 million, and ordered the prosecution to supply all witness statements to enable him to prepare his defence.

The post Nairobi Court Hears How Mega Mall Employee Allegedly Stole Sh296 Million appeared first on Nairobi Wire.