Two G4S employees were on Monday charged with stealing more than Sh300 million. A police station commander and his brother were also charged with stealing Sh256.5 million in different currencies belonging to a security company.

Mr Sylvester Mbisi Mutua and Mr Humphrey Wekesa Wanjala had earlier admitted the offence but changed the plea to not guilty after consultation with their lawyer, Mr John Makau. They are alleged to have stolen US $640,700, £93,000 sterling, 1,775,000 euros, 55,170 Swiss francs and Sh7 million.

Mr Makau told senior principal magistrate Lillian Mutende that his clients were disoriented when they initially took the plea as a result of being tortured allegedly by the police. Following the application by the defence counsel, the charge was read again and the accused denied stealing the money.

The two are alleged to have stolen the money on February 12 at Barclays Bank's Nkrumah Road branch in Mombasa. In the alternative count of handling stolen property, Mr Wanjala denied the charge of stealing, dishonestly receiving or retaining cash.

The accused is alleged to have committed the offence on March 5 at Mulundi village in Kitui District.

Prosecutor Obed Ndubi objected to the accused being released on bond for the time being. He said the accused would interfere with investigations which were still going on.