By Andrew Kariuki

Three suspects charged in connection with a complex financial crime case involving transactions amounting to approximately ksh246.9 million over a period of nearly four years have been granted bail by a Nairobi court.

The three; Salimah Ameen Pirbhai, Aabid Alkarim Kassam and Tazim Sidi Vassanji appeared before the Milimani Law Courts facing multiple charges linked to alleged theft, money laundering and falsification of banking documents connected to accounts at Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) Parklands branch.

Court documents indicate that the charges relate to transactions allegedly carried out between October 2016 and June 2020, with prosecutors alleging that the accused acted jointly in some instances and individually in others to facilitate irregular withdrawals and financial transactions involving a complainant’s accounts.

The charge sheet references transactions totalling approximately Ksh246,967,842.62 in Kenya Shillings, excluding additional sums cited in British Pounds Sterling, across allegations ranging from theft by servant to money laundering and the creation of allegedly false banking documents.

According to the prosecution, the first accused, Pirbhai, who is identified in court records as a branch manager, faces allegations including the theft of Ksh39.5 million said to have come into her possession by virtue of employment at the bank.

The second accused, Kassam, identified as an assistant branch manager, is accused of allegedly stealing over Ksh58.2 million between October 2016 and April 2018, alongside another Ksh10.9 million allegedly taken between June and October 2019. Prosecutors further accuse him of handling funds believed to be proceeds of crime in counts relating to alleged money laundering.

The third accused, Vassanji, also faces charges tied to alleged joint transactions and banking-related offences connected to the case.

Court documents further outline several allegations involving purportedly falsified withdrawal instructions, internal banking letters and fixed deposit liquidation documents allegedly used to process withdrawals from accounts associated with the complainant over several years.

The accused persons denied the charges.

In her ruling on bond and bail terms, the court granted the first and third accused a cash bail of ksh300,000 or an alternative bond of Ksh1 million, while the second accused, who faces approximately to 65 charges, was granted a cash bail of Ksh500,000 or a bond of Ksh2 million.

The matter is scheduled for mention on June 17, 2026, for further directions as the criminal proceedings continue.