A woman has been charged in court over an alleged land fraud scheme involving two properties in Mombasa valued at approximately KSh100 million. Farzana Nur Butt appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Gladys Olimo, where she denied three charges relating to the alleged fraudulent acquisition of land belonging to Susan Wanjiru. According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the accused was released on a bond of KSh1 million, with a surety of a similar amount.
Farzana Butt Faces Conspiracy to Defraud Charge
The first charge involves conspiracy to defraud, contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code. Prosecutors allege that Farzana acted alongside her relatives, Jamshed Ahmed Butt and Fahmeda Begum Butt, who were not present in court. The prosecution claims that the three conspired to deprive Wanjiru of two parcels of land identified as LR. Mombasa/MS/Block 1/1944 and Mombasa/MS/Block I/1945. The alleged scheme is said to have taken place between July 12, 2006, and October 20, 2026, within the Coast region.
The two properties, registered at the Mombasa Land Registry, are located in the Likoni and Shelly Beach area and are valued at KSh100 million. According to the prosecution, the parcels were allegedly claimed without the registered owner’s authorisation and subsequently registered in the names of the accused’s relatives.
Alleged Manipulation of Land Records
In the second count, Farzana is accused of making a false entry in land records at the Mombasa Land Registry. Prosecutors allege that on July 12, 2006, she inserted Title Lease No. Mombasa/MS/Block 1/416 into the records, allegedly intending to deprive Wanjiru of her two properties.
The prosecution maintains that the lease was entered into the records despite the accused allegedly knowing that the information was false. The third charge relates to forcible entry. Farzana is accused of entering the disputed property without the permission or authority of its registered owner.
Accused Denies All Charges
Farzana pleaded not guilty to all three charges when she appeared before the court. Through her lawyer, she requested reasonable bond terms, arguing that she had a fixed residence within the court’s jurisdiction. Magistrate Gladys Olimo granted her release on a KSh1 million bond, with a surety of an equivalent amount. The matter is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on November 12, 2026, as the case proceeds through the judicial process. The allegations remain unproven, and the accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.
