Court Charges Former DTB Managers in Multi-Million Shilling Fraud Case

A fraud case involving more than Sh149 million has moved to court after two former Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) managers and a third suspect were formally charged over allegations of illegally withdrawing funds from a customer’s account over several years.

The three suspects — former Parklands branch manager Salimah Ameen Pirbhai, former assistant branch manager Aabid Alkarim Kassam and Tazim Sidi Vassanji — appeared before a Milimani court facing 68 counts that include conspiracy to defraud, stealing, money laundering and forgery. All denied the charges.

According to the prosecution, the alleged scheme involved withdrawals from a Great Britain Pounds account belonging to Rozina Nurdin Patelia between 2016 and 2020. Prosecutors claim the transactions were carried out fraudulently through a series of forged documents and instructions.

Kassam faces the largest share of the allegations, including claims that he unlawfully obtained tens of millions of shillings over different periods. He is also accused of forging withdrawal documents, email instructions and records linked to fixed deposits worth millions of shillings.

Pirbhai separately faces accusations of stealing Sh39.6 million from the bank in June 2025 and allegedly preparing a false bank statement.

During the bail hearing, defence lawyers told the court that the accused persons had cooperated with investigators from the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit since July 2025 and had previously presented themselves for questioning. They argued that the suspects did not pose a flight risk.

The court subsequently released Kassam on a Sh2 million bond or an alternative cash bail of Sh500,000. Pirbhai and Vassanji were each granted a Sh1 million bond or Sh300,000 cash bail.

The magistrate also directed the prosecution to provide witness statements and other evidence to the defence as the case proceeds through the court system.