A parcel of land located in Loresho, Nairobi, with an estimated value of Ksh 1.6 billion, is rightfully owned by Landmark Freight Services Limited, as revealed during a fraud trial on Thursday.
Young Moon Choi, the original owner of the contested property, testified before Magistrate Ben Mark Ekubi, affirming that he legally sold the land to Landmark Freight Services Limited in 2018 for Ksh 160 million.
Choi recounted how he came to possess the land in 2011, following a recommendation from a business associate, and explained that the title deed was officially transferred to his name in 2013, solidifying his ownership before the sale.
“I agreed to sell the land at Ksh 160 million in 2018 and went ahead to sign all the documents after receiving the payment from Landmark Freight Services Limited,” Choi testified.
“There were no issues when I bought the land or when I sold it.”
Choi also confirmed the land reference number of the property in question (L.R. No. 21068, measuring approximately 0.6724 hectares) and told the court that he had never met the three accused persons charged in the case with fraud.
The court heard that the three accused, John Gitau Ngumi, Atek Otech Richard, and Bernard Otieno Mallo, are facing charges of conspiracy to defraud Landmark Freight Services Limited by falsely claiming to be the rightful owners of the property.
Two senior land officials also testified in the case on Thursday, further corroborating Choi’s claims. Director of Land Administration Gordon O. Ochieng and Land Registrar Stephen Chege Njoroge told the court that the land had indeed been transferred to Landmark Freight Services Limited.
However, they admitted that some documents in the Ministry of Lands were misplaced over time.
“The allotment letter was at the Lands Department but was likely misplaced at a later stage,” said Mr. Ochieng.
He confirmed that the first transfer of the property occurred when Beba Freight Limited accepted an offer of allotment in March 2012.
This was followed by the issuance of a title grant in February 2013, which was later registered at the Nairobi Land Titles Registry.
Consent to transfer the land was granted on 13th May 2013.
According to the testimony, the property changed hands from Beba Freight Limited to Bharat Ramji Manji and Young Moon Choi, before ultimately being transferred to Landmark Freight Services Limited.
Mr. Ochieng produced certified documents from File Number 190042, which contains official communication regarding the parcel.
However, he noted inconsistencies in a referenced allotment letter dated 6th July 1995 and pointed out that its contents did not align with those in the registered land grant.
The director also disclosed that another file, Correspondence File No. 303167, allegedly used to generate a separate title in a related civil case (ELC No. E264 of 2024), could not be located in the Ministry’s records. The only trace found was a file-opening card indicating the file originally related to a different parcel, L.R. 29/19, registered in the name of Bijal G. Lakhamshi.
The hearing continues.
