Nairobi Law Firm Employee Charged with Sh3.45M Money Laundering Case

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Nairobi Law Firm Employee Charged with Sh3.45M Money Laundering Case

A Nairobi law firm employee has been charged before a court with multiple counts of money laundering and obtaining money by false pretences involving Sh3.45 million.

Mercy Wangari Wachiuri denied the charges, which allege that she handled proceeds of crime amounting to Sh3,450,000, said to have been fraudulently obtained from Grace Njeri Irungu through a fake goods transaction involving the supply of rice and sugar.

The prosecution told the court that between May 14 and August 2025, the accused allegedly participated in concealing the funds, which were proceeds of crime from the fraudulent scheme.

Mercy Wangari Wachiuri before Milimani magistrate court on March 31st 2026/photo/reporter 

Investigators further alleged that part of the money was used to purchase an orange Ford Ranger, registration number KDT 605S, which is believed to be proceeds of crime.

The court also heard that the accused allegedly transferred ownership of the vehicle from Joseph Wambugu to herself in an attempt to conceal the source and ownership of the funds. 

The vehicle is currently detained at the DCI Nairobi Region headquarters as an exhibit.

The prosecution opposed her release on bond, arguing that she is a flight risk. Investigating officer Sgt. Patricia Mwendwa stated in an affidavit that the accused allegedly failed to respond to police summons issued in September 2025 and later became untraceable.

“The accused is a flight risk and may interfere with witnesses and exhibits,” the prosecution submitted, adding that she had demonstrated disregard for lawful process.

The defence, led by advocates Nanjwa and Nkatha, opposed the claims, arguing that there was no evidence of proper service of summons or that the accused had gone into hiding. They maintained she was arrested at her workplace in Westlands.

The defence further told the court that the motor vehicle in question is already in police custody, making interference unlikely. They also stated that the accused has a fixed place of residence, is employed, and is willing to comply with any bail terms.

The court heard that Wachiuri is a lactating mother who spent the night in police custody following her arrest on March 30, 2026.

The prosecution maintained its opposition to bail, insisting that she should remain in custody pending trial.

The court is expected to deliver a ruling on the bail application as the case proceeds.



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