{
  "id": 16221184,
  "title": "Former insurance firm officer charged over Sh89.5 million fraud",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/former-insurance-firm-officer-charged-over-sh89-5-million-fraud",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-23T20:07:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KahawaTungu",
    "slug": "kahawatungu",
    "url": "https://kahawatungu.com/former-insurance-firm-officer-charged-over-sh89-5-million-fraud/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bernard Kariuki Ngugi, a former credit control officer at an insurance firm, has been charged with embezzling Sh89.58 million in an alleged insider fraud scheme that allegedly took place over seven years, according to prosecutors. Ngugi was arrested and brought to Milimani Law Courts on October 23 following an investigation by detectives from the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit (BFIU). The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) stated that Ngugi allegedly misused his access to the financial systems of his former employer to divert millions of shillings to three companies with no legitimate business connections to the insurer. The investigation revealed that the fraudulent activities took place between 2018 and November 2025, with the three companies identified as Auris General Merchants Ltd, Donbitz Global Limited and Pedram Global Limited. The suspects were allegedly introduced into the company's payment system irregularly, allowing for the misappropriation of corporate funds. The DCI found that Sh35.27 million was allegedly transferred to Auris General Merchants Ltd, Sh32.68 million to Donbitz Global Limited and Sh21.63 million to Pedram Global Limited. The investigation also uncovered that withdrawals and transfers were conducted in a manner designed to conceal the origin and movement of the funds. Ngugi pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a bond of Sh2 million or an alternative cash bail of Sh800,000. The case will be heard again on November 10, 2026 for pre-trial directions. The DCI reiterated its commitment to investigating complex financial crimes and pursuing those suspected of abusing positions of trust to cause financial harm. The charges against Ngugi remain unproven, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.",
  "summary": "A former credit control officer at an insurance company has been charged over the alleged theft of Sh89.58 million in a suspected insider fraud scheme spanning seven years. Bernard Kariuki Ngugi was arrested and arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts on Friday, October 23, following investigations by detectives from the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit (BFIU). [...] The post Former insurance firm…",
  "key_points": [
    "Former credit control officer Bernard Kariuki Ngugi charged with Sh89.58 million fraud",
    "Ngugi allegedly misused access to financial systems to divert funds to three companies",
    "Charges dismissed as unproven, Ngugi presumed innocent until proven guilty"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}