Detectives are investigating an incident in Mombasa in which a police officer allegedly used the logbook of a vehicle in his care to obtain a bank loan without the owner’s knowledge.
Documents filed in court through the Criminal Investigation Directorate’s Bank Fraud Investigation Unit reveal how Lilian Bujede’s vehicle was seized by an auctioneer over a loan she was unaware of existence.
Documents filed by Corporal David Munga show how rogue police officers could take advantage of their investigative powers to steal property from innocent Kenyans. You couldn’t make this up.
It all started in 2018 when Ms Bujede purchased the vehicle, a white Toyota Belta for which she paid installments, after paying the principal.
Due to this method of purchase, the vehicle’s logbook remained recorded in the name of the company selling the vehicle and in the name of the customer until the balance was completely cleared.
Thus, after paying the balance, Ms. Bujede received a logbook recorded only in her name.
However, in 2020, while the vehicle was operating as a taxi in Mombasa County, she faced several problems, including the theft of parts from the vehicle, which she promptly reported to the Mjambere police station. The incident report she took involved the theft of motor vehicle parts.
Preliminary investigations show that the case was entrusted to a police officer from the station to follow up.
Cpl Munga said after finalizing the investigation, the officer refused to return the vehicle to Ms Bujede.
Records show that Ms. Bujede alleged that the police officer then went to her home and convinced her child to hand over the vehicle booklet without her consent or even knowledge.
“The complainant raised the alarm with the Mjambere police station commander. The vehicle was then returned to the complainant, but without the logbook since the investigating officer was on leave at the time,” Cpl Munga said in an affidavit filed before Mombasa Principal Magistrate David Odhiambo.
The police officer added that subsequent efforts by the woman to retrieve the logbook bore no fruit as the document could not be given to her.
During one of his visits to track the register, Cpl Munga said the officer informed the woman that he had used the document as collateral to secure a bank loan from Rafiki Microfinance Bank.
Ms Bujede then went to the bank to confirm this information and learned that indeed the agent had applied for a loan of 300,000 shillings and had used her logbook as security.
His troubles didn’t end there.
In August 2020, while owning the vehicle in Vihiga, western Kenya, she claims Mumu Auctioneers staff approached her with orders to repossess the car.
“The complainant claims that her vehicle was repossessed by Mumu Auctioneers due to an outstanding loan amounting to Sh377,170.15 given to the police officer without her consent,” said Cpl. Munga.
This is how Ms. Bujede lost her vehicle to the auctioneers because of a loan she knew nothing about.
To get to the bottom of it, Cpl. Munga asked the court to grant orders allowing him to obtain the necessary documents from the bank to confirm Ms Bujede’s claim.
Cpl Munga told the court he was handling the case under the offense of conspiracy to defraud, contrary to section 317 of the penal code.
He wants the court to allow him to open an investigation following the seizure of the vehicle by Mumu Auctioneers under the instructions of Rafiki Microfinance Bank.
Another document he wishes to receive includes the account opening documents for the loan given to the police station along with the security deposit, the bank’s offer letter for the facility given to the debtor and a copy of the logbook of Belta presented as guarantee before the granting of the loan. granted.
He also wishes to receive a guarantee form or any letter of consent written and signed by the guarantor of the loan issued, an valuation report of the vehicle presented as security for the requested loan and a loan account statement in the name of the accused police officer between the May 1, 2020 and October 31, 2020.
Mr. Munga is also seeking permission to record statements of staff working in the credit section and debt recovery unit of Rafiki Microfinance Bank as well as any other documents or information relevant to the debtor’s loan account, which would help to conclude the investigation.
