A Nairobi lawyer was Thursday charged with obtaining Sh3 million from a fellow advocate by pretending that he could sell a plot valued at Sh30 million to the latter's client.

Mr Lawrence Ngugi Mwangi denied five counts related to fraud.

He was accused of forging land title LR No 86037 and deed plan No 234803.

Soiled his name

He is alleged to have presented the forged title deed and the deed plan to Mr Stephen Karanja Kapucho of E.K. Kimani Advocates with the intention of defrauding him on September 3, 2008.

Mr Mwangi opposed his detention in police custody for the officers to retrieve certain documents from his offices.

He told senior resident magistrate Teresia Ngugi that the police had soiled his name and assassinated his character, reputation and public standing by arraigning him in court yet they had reached a certain agreement.

He claimed he was accosted by the police whom he allegedly gave a Sh1 million to withdraw the case.

"I was coerced into writing an understanding which is not being observed. Police have an ulterior motive and are playing dirty.

"Let them return the Sh1 million cheque I gave them. They had promised to withdraw the case against me today in court," the lawyer said.But prosecutor David Wangai denied Mr Mwangi's claims.

"He is afraid of more charges being filed against him by police after they conclude investigations by studying documents in their possession and others they will get from his offices," the prosecutor said.

At that juncture Ms Ngugi ordered the investigating officer, who was in court, to shed light on the serious allegations raised by the suspect against the investigators.

Inspector Ephantus Mwaniki Njiru of the Banking Fraud Unit said he arrested the accused while in the company of fellow advocates on Wednesday at 5.45pm.

He said Mr Mwangi had evaded arrest until they caught up with him then escorted him to the BFU where he was detained before he was arraigned in court over forgery, authoring false documents and obtaining money through pretences.

Cash bail

"We did not promise the accused that he would be given amnesty in court," Mr Njiru said.

The officer asked the court to direct that the suspect be remanded at the BFU offices for two days to assist them retrieve some documents from his law firm.

Ms Ngugi allowed the plea and directed that the accused be remanded until September 8, 2008.

She also ordered that he deposits a cash bail of Sh300,000 after going through the examination session.

In addition, the court directed the officers to conclude their investigations within the two days they had asked for.