Five men have been charged in Nairobi over the theft of iPhones valued at Sh9 million from Dreams Collection Limited at Diamond Plaza, Parklands, Nairobi
Prosecutors say the group broke into the shop on September 16, 2025, and stole high-value devices. All accused denied the charges, and the court has ordered a pre-bail report before ruling on their bond terms.
According to the charge sheet presented in court on Tuesday, “five men allegedly broke into Dreams Collection Limited on September 16, 2025, and stole high-value iPhones valued at Sh9 million.”
The prosecution described the theft as a planned operation targeting some of the most expensive devices stocked by the retailer.
One of the suspects, identified in court as Stephen Bari, was later found in possession of an iPhone 16, which prosecutors believe was among the stolen items.
The court heard that the device recovered from him is believed to be stolen and forms part of the evidence linking the group to the burglary.
All five accused men stood before the magistrate and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Each maintained their innocence as the charges were read out, prompting the court to move the matter to the bail stage.
Defence lawyers argued that the men should be released on reasonable bond terms, insisting that the prosecution had not demonstrated that they were a flight risk or would interfere with investigations.
Prosecutors, however, urged the court to proceed cautiously, citing the seriousness of the offence and the high value of the items allegedly stolen.
They requested time to present additional background information to assist the court in determining appropriate bond terms.
In response, the magistrate ordered that a pre-bail report be prepared before any decision on release conditions is made.
The report will offer recommendations based on the suspects’ backgrounds, social ties, fixed residences and other factors relevant to bail considerations.
The court directed that the report be tabled on November 26, 2025, after which the magistrate will deliver a ruling on whether the five men will be granted bail or remain in custody as the case proceeds.
The prosecution’s brief summary of the investigation reveals that the theft was detected after Dreams Collection Limited staff arrived at the premises and found signs of forced entry and missing stock.
A subsequent audit confirmed the loss of iPhones worth Sh9 million, described in court as “high-value iPhones” that formed the bulk of the store's premium inventory.
Investigators reportedly traced one of the missing devices to a location linked to the suspect Bari, leading to his arrest and the recovery of the iPhone 16.
Prosecutors told the court that the recovered phone is a critical exhibit in the case, stating it is “believed to be stolen” and will be presented during trial.
The atmosphere in the courtroom remained tense as the accused awaited the magistrate’s directions.
Their legal teams reiterated that the men should be presumed innocent until proven otherwise, while prosecutors maintained that the circumstances of the break-in justified enhanced scrutiny before release.
As the matter stands, the five suspects remain in custody pending the submission of the pre-bail report on November 26, after which the court will issue its ruling on bond terms.
The case will then proceed to the next phase, where evidence, including the recovered iPhone 16 is expected to be presented in detail.
