By Grace Gilo
Four suspected gold scammers arrested on Wednesday, December 11 have been arraigned at Milimani Law Courts charged with several counts of Conspiracy to defraud and Forgery.
The four are alleged to be implicated in a USD 100,000 scam.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), from the investigation conducted by the DCI Operation Support Unit, Susan Wanjeri Kogi, Elvis Muga Ouma, Nazlin Karim Rahimbux and Hubbard Kanyago Ndong’o, are accused of conspiring to defraud a Niger businessman, the said amount, while purporting to be Customs officials based in the Capital.
This fraudulent scheme extends across borders to the country of Mali, where the victim, whose company is based in Dubai, is reported to have lost over USD 5,000,000 between February 2024 and December.
The amount was meant for the purchase, clearance and transportation of 100kg of gold to Dubai from Mali.
As is typical in such scams, after receiving the substantial sum, the fraudsters claimed that the gold consignment had been seized by Customs officers in Nairobi while en route to Dubai.
“But as is their norm (and having received the hefty sum), the fraudsters introduced allegations of the gold consignment being confiscated by Customs officers in Nairobi while on transit to Dubai,” stated the DCI.
Subsequently, the scammers in Mali facilitated communication with their Kenyan accomplices, who issued an invoice from DARDESSA Logistics Limited, a purported Kenyan company claiming to hold the consignment.
The complainant was instructed to send USD 100,000 which he did, thereafter receiving a confirmation of receipt from Susan Wanjeri.
“He later travelled to Kenya where he met the fake agents, who made several attempts to obtain more dollars from him. He got suspicious and reported the fraud,” added the DCI.
In response, detectives launched an intelligence-led operation, apprehending the suspects at various locations within the capital and placing them in custody.
Upon arraignment at court no. 5 today, the four pleaded not guilty and were granted Sh 500,000 bond with the alternative of a cash bail of Sh 200,000.
The case is scheduled for mention on Jan 21, 2025.
DCI urged businesspersons to remain vigilant against organized fraud rings that exploit opportunities to profit from the hard work and efforts of legitimate traders.