An investigation into the Sh2 billion seized at Barclays Bank has taken a different twist after the US authorities declared the notes as fake.
Confirming the new development, United States Secret Service told the Kenyan court that the cash is fake after examining the 13,194 specimen notes sent to the foreign pending investigation into how the notes found their way into the bank.
The office of Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti had sent notes amounting to 1.3 million dollars (Sh131 million) to the authorities for examination before they were declared counterfeit.
In court papers, presented before Judge John Mativo, investigative agent Gilbert Gunn said that the notes lacked the security features as required by the US government.
“My examination of the above 13,194 specimens determined that they are counterfeit because they do not contain authentic features that are found on the US 100 Federal Reserve Notes (1996 and 2004 style),” said Gunn, as quoted by Standard.
The owner of the safe where the notes where discovered Businessman Erick Adede had maintained that the notes were genuine and wanted the government to intervene so that he gets them back with immediate effect.
He faulted the court for probing for no reason yet he legally acquired the cash.