Popular influencer Passy Ma Trevor charged over Ksh.80M scam

Popular online influencer Pascaline Peter also known as Passy Ma Trevor has been charged with obtaining Ksh.80 million from 79 individuals through false pretense.

The 36-year-old self-proclaimed businesswoman was charged at the Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi on Thursday, alongside one George Mutual Mutunga alias Iman, another suspect implicated in the scam.

In a statement on X, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) highlighted that the duo lured unsuspecting individuals with promises of monthly returns of 23.5 percent on investments, only to later make away with their hard-earned cash.

"Prosecuting Counsel Ms. Kaaria Joy Kawira told court the accused persons obtained over Ksh.80 million from 79 complainants while pretending the amount would earn a monthly return on interest on the amount invested, a fact they knew to be false," the ODPP's statement reads in part.

"The accused persons obtained the money on diverse dates between 3rd March 2023 and 30th August 2024 at unknown place within the Republic of Kenya."

The two suspects were also charged with operating an unlicensed collective investment scheme, in violation of regulations set by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

"The Court heard that on diverse dates between 3rd March 2023 and 30th August of the following year, the accused persons represented as genuine sole proprietors of Passy Ma Trevor investment scheme carried out a business as a collective investment scheme without a valid license," said the ODPP.

The suspects both pleaded not guilty to the charges before Makadara Court Principal Magistrate Erick Mutunga, with the prosecution opposing their release on bond pending the hearing and determination of the case.

"In an affidavit to oppose bond, investigating officer Justin Mutwiri said the accused persons went into hiding when the complainants demanded their return on investment and later switched off their mobile phones whereby it took intensive use of intelligence tactics from different agencies to smoke them from their hideouts deep inside Machakos County," said the ODPP.

"The investigating officer further told the court the suspects are likely to interfere with major witnesses, don’t have a fixed abode, and are a flight risk. The victims' lawyer also asked the court not to release the suspects on bond."

The court will issue directions on whether the pair will be released on bond on November 13, 2024. 

Passy Ma Trevor was arrested on Thursday, September 12, after allegedly defrauding Ksh.350 million from unsuspecting Kenyans under the guise of a real estate investment opportunity that turned out to be a ponzi scheme.  

She was arrested at her hideout in Kantafu, Machakos County, booked at Kasarani Police Station and arraigned on Friday, September 13.

Police reports indicated that she rented out people's money through a money-lending institution operated in violation of the Banking Act and without proper documentation.

Police were later given a 30-day custodial order by the Makadara Law Courts to continue holding the 36-year-old as investigations into the case continued.