A 32-year-old woman from Nairobi County is counting losses after being conned KSh140,000 in a weight loss scam.
Judith Mawia Munyoki, who is a business lady in Embakasi, narrated the devastating incident before Senior Principal Magistrate Hellen Okwany of the Makadara Law Courts.
It all began when Munyoki opened up to her friend Susan Francis about her struggle with weight loss.
The friend promised to assist her with an easy way out as has been witnessed with the famous gastric procedure, slimming tea, among other weight loss techniques.
Woman pays KSh140,000 for procedure
Francis connected Munyoki with an alleged doctor “she knew would help”, on condition that she paid the required amount of money before the treatment.
An unsuspecting Munyoki would then send the KSh140,000 in three installments within six days.
On D-day, Francis led Munyoki to a guest house in Rongai where she met two men; Mwangi Waweru who introduced himself as a doctor and the other remained mysterious.
How GLP-1 liraglutide Works
Minutes later, Waweru allegedly ordered Munyoki to lie down on the bed so he could administer GLP-1 liraglutide (saxenda).
A prescription guide from their website indicates that the drug helps adults with excess weight and weight-related medical problems, lose weight and keep it off.
“The body naturally produces an appetite hormone known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) that helps to regulate hunger.
“Saxenda® works like GLP-1 by regulating the appetite, which can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight,” the guide read.
Woman files report with police
A streak of doubt set in when Munyoki questioned why the procedure was conducted in a hotel room instead of a hospital.
Slyly, the ‘doctor’ stated that the rooms in the hospital were full and the procedure required ultimate privacy.
After cleaning her tummy with methylated spirit and massaging her for a few minutes, Waweru, Francis, and the third suspect left claiming they were going to fetch the drug.
More than three hours later, Munyoki came to the realization that she had been conned.
Panicked, she went straight to Embakasi Police Station and reported the bizarre matter.
Two Suspects Arrested
Police tracked down and arrested Munyoki’s friends Francis and Waweru.
The two were arraigned at Makadara Law Courts where they denied charges of obtaining money by false pretenses.
They reportedly pleaded for lenient bail claiming they were mere hawkers. They were released on a cash bail of KSh70,000 each.
The case will be mentioned on November 16 before the hearing starts on March 27, 2024.
