A company director has been charged with stealing over Sh356 million from his own firm, OKI General Trading Limited. Honey Khatwani appeared before Milimani Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego on Monday, accused of stealing $2,786,174.40 (Sh356.7 million) from the company between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2024, at Barbado in Nairobi.

The prosecution told the court that the funds belonged to the company and were allegedly stolen by Khatwani in his capacity as a director.

They opposed his release on bond, arguing that the scale of the alleged fraud made him a possible flight risk.

They also asked the court to order him to surrender his travel documents.

Khatwani, however, pleaded for lenient bail terms, saying he is not a flight risk and has family in Kenya.

Through his lawyer Kennedy Echesa, he urged the court to uphold his right to be presumed innocent. “The accused is innocent until proven otherwise, and we urge the court to consider this while determining the bond terms,” said Echesa.

The defence further pointed out that Khatwani had previously been released on a cash bail of Sh200,000 at the time of arrest and requested that the same bond terms be retained. Khatwani also told the court that he was unwell and asked to be taken to Avenue Hospital for treatment.

Magistrate Alego is expected to rule on the bail application on Tuesday.