Rees and his alleged accomplice, Aisha Uwamahoro, are under investigation for embezzling over Frw100 million from Nobilis Hotel & Apartments, a property owned by SONARWA General Insurance. But the story goes much deeper than numbers on a ledger.
Credible sources recently intimated to IGIHE new details about the case, pointing to a tangled web of professional misconduct, personal relationships, and desperate attempts to avoid accountability.
According to the sources, before Rees's arrest on October 2, 2024, he attempted to escape after learning that authorities were closing in, only to be apprehendedâ€"further fueling intrigue.
A Partnership Built on More Than Just Business?
It all began with what seemed like a standard job. Aisha Uwamahoro joined Nobilis Hotel & Apartments, entrusted with managing the hotel's finances. However, this wasn't your typical hiring process.
Sources indicate that Aisha, despite failing a job interview at SONARWA, somehow landed the role with Rees' help. Eyebrows were raised, as her qualifications were less than ideal.
She had no formal training in finance or hospitality, yet she was given a managerial position. It quickly became apparent that her relationship with Rees went beyond a standard boss-employee dynamic.
Aisha's appointment, which reportedly came through a signed contract on December 29, 2023, surprised many within SONARWA, especially as the job was granted without solid grounds. This unusual hiring decision would prove costly.
Patterns of Misconduct Begin to Emerge
Between July 2023 and May 2024, troubling patterns of financial mismanagement surfaced. According to the investigation, invoices and client records did not match up: payments made to the hotel were routinely lower than documented, and clients were often billed for fewer days than they stayed.
Despite these discrepancies, Rees reportedly never questioned or supervised the hotel's financial operationsâ€"a hands-off approach that sources attribute to his close connection with Aisha.
While Rees claims his role was limited to overseeing and offering advice to the hotel, evidence suggests otherwise. This laissez-faire attitude, it appears, allowed Aisha to operate with little oversight, and the hotel's financial losses began to spiral.
Shifting Blame
When investigations began, tensions quickly escalated between Rees and Aisha. Each pointed the finger at the other. Aisha defended herself, arguing that the job was beyond her expertise and claiming she only took on the role because Rees offered her no guidance.
She contended that her frequent billing errors were innocent mistakes and questioned why the financial losses were flagged only two months after her departure.
Meanwhile, Rees distanced himself from Aisha's actions, asserting that he was only her supervisor in a limited capacity.
He argued that he never directly managed the hotel's finances, insisting that Aisha's hiring had been approved by SONARWA's boardâ€"though he was unable to provide documentation of this approval.
Secrets in the Shadows
SONARWA employees watching the drama unfold noted that Rees and Aisha's relationship was anything but typical.
Reports from insiders revealed that they often worked in secluded, private spaces, far from the rest of the staff. For many, it was no surprise that their 'collaboration' had led to the scandal.
As one staff member put it, 'Rees was effectively running the show. With Aisha's lack of experience, she followed his instructions to the letter. It was all too easy for them to keep things hidden.'
Aisha had, in fact, tried to cover her bases, repeatedly requesting clearer guidelines from Rees. She claimed he consistently ignored her pleas, leaving her to handle the job in the only way she couldâ€"with improvisation.
As whispers of the embezzlement case started to circulate, Rees, a Kenyan national, allegedly made a final attempt to evade the authorities, attempting to flee. But he was apprehended, dashing his hopes for a quiet escape.
Aisha, meanwhile, had completed her 'handover' and was no longer working with SONARWA when the losses were finally noticed, sparking further controversy about why her alleged misdeeds weren't flagged sooner.
With allegations of embezzlement mounting, the court ruled that both Aisha and Rees would be detained for 30 days while the investigation continues.
The charges they face are severe, with both suspected of high-level embezzlement and Rees facing accusations of complicity.
Whether Rees and Aisha were drawn into this alleged crime by personal entanglements, professional ambition, or simply bad luck, the outcome of this case promises to shed light on the sometimes murky dealings within the corporate world.
As they await trial, all eyes are on the duoâ€"two people whose fates, once intertwined in secrecy, now lie exposed in the harsh light of the courtroom.
IGIHE
