A youthful businessman with high political connections was on Wednesday charged in court in a case involving the theft of more than Sh220 million from two Nairobi banks.  Mr Don Bosco Gichana was charged with five other people. But out of the six, only Mr Gichana and two others appeared before chief magistrate Gilbert Mutembei on Wednesday.

Together with Mr Graham Sagwe, Mr Gichana denied stealing over Sh104.7 million, while Mr Albert Simiyu, a lawyer, denied stealing Sh10 million. All the money is said to belong to Fina Bank although it was allegedly stolen on November 15 from various banks in the city, including Commercial Bank of Africa and Barclays Bank’s Westlands and Development House branches.

Three other suspects allegedly involved in the theft — Mr Obadia Gichana, Ms Moraa Gichana and Mr Robert Onkwami — were not in the dock. The two Gichanas were reported to be out of the country “but they have full information that a criminal case has been filed against them.”

Their lawyer, Mr Ishmael Nyaribo, told Mr Mutembei: “Obadia Gichana and Moraa Gichana are out of the country.” However, Mr Nyaribo told the court they were aware that a warrant of arrest had been issued against them.

Mr Nyaribo urged the magistrate to suspend the warrant until November 29, 2010 when he will produce them in court. Mr Mutembei issued the warrant of arrest on Tuesday when Mr Simiyu, Mr Gichana and Mr Sagwe appeared before him. The three have denied the charges of conspiracy and theft filed against them.

On Wednesday, defence lawyers Albert Khaminwa and Nelson Oundo applied to have the suspects released on bond. But their plea was opposed by the prosecutor, who urged the court to consider the amount stolen.

“It is the kind of money one will live on comfortably outside this country,” Inspector Daniel Thuku said. Mr Thuku said “not a single cent has been recovered.” Mr Sagwe and Don Bosco Gichana are accused of conspiring to defraud Garden Real Estate Development Ltd of Sh96,759,540 on November 12.

On November 15, the two allegedly stole over Sh96.7 million at Fina Bank Ngong Road in Nairobi. Obadia and Moraa are charged with stealing Sh96,759,540 at Eco-Bank’s Eco-Bank Towers Branch in Nairobi on November 15.

Mr Simiyu is accused of stealing Sh10 million from Commercial Bank of Africa on November 15. Donbosco has denied stealing Sh8 million from Barclays Bank the property of Fina Bank on November 15, while Mr Onkwami is accused of stealing Sh9 million at Barclays Bank Development House, the property of Fina Bank. Mr Mutembei released Mr Simiyu on a cash bail of Sh300,000 while Mr Sagwe and Mr Gichana were given a Sh1 million cash bail. The case will be tried on January 4, next year.