Three proprietors of a company that sources food stuff for distribution to hunger-stricken areas have been charged with defrauding two suppliers of cooking oil valued over Sh33 million.

Seth Onyango Orinda and Leon Ondogo Otieno were charged alongside a transporter Richard Maina Mwaniki before senior principal magistrate Esther Kimilu at the Milimani Law courts.

Orinda and Otieno, however, pleaded with the court to allow them to settle the matter out of court by refunding Sh4,332,000 obtained from a trader Abdiwahab Aden Arte whom they supplied 1,040-20 litre Jericans of cooking oil.

The three were accused of conspiring to defraud Hussein Adow Mohammed and Rajula Adimo from whom they allegedly obtained 6,020 litres of cooking oil on diverse dates between November 15 and December 23.

The accused faced fraud and money laundering charges.

Kimilu was informed by state prosecutor Anne Munyua the value of the cooking oil, meant for some of the starving people in the hunger-stricken arid areas in 23 counties was Sh33,110,000.

“I do not oppose the release of the accused persons on bond. The complainants want to recover over Sh4 million from them plus the cooking oil stored in a city Godowns,” lawyer Abdullahi Bare for the complainants told  Kimilu.

The lawyer said he needs time to consult with defence lawyers to agree on the terms of the settlement and file a report through the prosecution.

Barre had earlier opposed the release of the suspects on bond saying the complainants Messrs Rajula, Mohammed and Arte have lost huge business and millions of shillings in the shadowy business transactions.

But Orinda, Otieno and Mwaniki opposed the detention plea.

They pleaded with the magistrate to tilt the wheels of justice in their favour.

The fraud suspects said they would have settled the dispute which is of civil nature had they not been locked up from December 23.

The accused informed the court that crime detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations descended into their offices in Westlands and took away computers, business files and Sh310,000 for forensic investigations.

They prevailed upon the magistrate to free them on bond promising not to interfere with prosecution witnesses.

“We will comply with the bond terms that will be imposed on us by this court,” the accused mitigated.

Orinda was granted a bond of Sh2 million with one surety of a similar amount or he deposits a cash bail of Sh800,000 in the alternative.

Otieno was directed to deposit a bond of Sh1 million with an alternative cash bail of Sh500,000 while Mwaniki was granted a bond of Sh800,000 with an alternative cash bail of Sh300,000.

The case will be mentioned on January 30 for further directions.