Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-01-30 04:34:19
For 16 years, Yagnesh Mohanlal Devani evaded justice. But that all changed when he was extradited from Britain to Kenya to face charges related to the Kipevu jet fuel scam. He has been accused of being involved in the fraudulent disposal of over $9 million worth of petroleum products that had been mortgaged by Kenya Commercial Bank Limited (KCB). The charges stem from activities that took place in 2008, and although the indictments were issued years ago, Devani managed to avoid facing trial until now.
Devani’s troubles came to a head on January 23, 2024, when he was arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi. The charges against him include theft and fraudulent disposition of mortgaged products, and his company, Triton Petroleum Company Limited, is also implicated in the case. Despite denying the allegations, Devani found himself in a position where he needed to apply for bail in order to secure his release as the court rejected his plea for more time.
Several of his alleged accomplices were also named in connection with the scam, and they have been vocal in their calls for a prompt trial. Devani and his associates are accused of pilfering large volumes of jet fuel, automotive gas oil, and premium motor spirit from the Kipevu Oil Storage facility in Mombasa County. The stolen products were valued at millions of dollars, and KCB is the entity that suffered the financial loss as a result of the theft.
Having been released on bail, Devani now awaits the next development in his case, which is scheduled to be mentioned on February 12, 2024, for pre-trial directions. Despite his long-standing evasion of the law, Devani finds himself at the center of a complex legal battle that will determine the outcome of the charges against him and those involved in the alleged scam.
