By Ashley Kariuki
Detectives from Kamukunji have arrested a 38-year-old woman at the centre of a sophisticated fraud scheme that duped a Chinese national out of over USD 100,000.
“Harriet Mary Wabwire was apprehended in Tassia after weeks of intensive investigations into a fraudulent business transaction involving a fake aluminium alloy shipment,” stated the DCI.
Wabwire is accused of posing as the Director of a company identified as OTD Group Limited.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), she convinced her victim, a Chinese trader, that she was in a position to export a consignment of aluminium alloys from the Port of Mombasa to Ningbo, China.
To bolster the scam, Wabwire provided a forged bill of lading and a counterfeit certificate of conformity allegedly issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
“These documents falsely confirmed that 23,890 kilograms of aluminium alloys had been packed in a 40-foot container and were ready for shipment,” added the DCI.
Convinced by the fraudulent documentation and Wabwire’s apparent credibility, the complainant wired USD 101,000 into her bank account.
Shortly after receiving the funds, Wabwire switched off her phone and disappeared, prompting the victim to raise the alarm.
A manhunt was launched, with detectives relying on forensic leads to track her movements.
Their efforts bore fruit when she was traced to a hideout in Nairobi’s Tassia estate, where she was arrested.
Wabwire is currently in custody and undergoing processing as investigations continue.
She is expected to be arraigned in court to face charges related to obtaining money by false pretenses, forgery, and impersonation.
The DCI has warned the public, especially foreign investors and importers, to remain vigilant and conduct due diligence before engaging in cross-border transactions.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the growing sophistication of fraud schemes in Kenya’s commercial landscape and the critical role of investigative authorities in bringing perpetrators to justice.