By Dorothy Musyoka
Detectives from the Land Fraud Investigations Unit (LFIU) at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters have arrested a suspect linked to a sophisticated land fraud scheme involving a high-value property in Karen worth Sh200 million.
The case followed after a complainant reported that she had legally purchased the land from its rightful owner, who had since passed away.
The deceased owner had herself inherited the property from her late mother. However, investigators soon discovered that fraudulent activities had taken place around the ownership documents of the land.
According to preliminary findings, the suspect, identified as Benick Otieno Okombo, allegedly forged a deed of gift and a transfer of land document in an attempt to unlawfully claim the property.
“The suspect allegedly forged a deed of gift and a transfer of land document to unlawfully acquire a parcel of land in the upscale area of Karen, valued at Sh200 million,” noted the DCI.
The falsified papers purported that the deceased owner had gifted him the land before her passing.
Once the complaint was filed, LFIU detectives launched an intensive investigation. Their meticulous work uncovered crucial evidence confirming the forgery.
“The meticulous inquiry collected the necessary evidence, which was then submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution. After an independent review, the ODPP supported the investigators’ findings and approved charges of forgery and the utterance of false documents against the suspect,” added the detectives.
Following the approval of charges, detectives initiated a manhunt for the suspect. Guided by forensic leads, officers traced and arrested Okombo at Bruce House in Nairobi.
He is currently in custody as detectives complete processing procedures ahead of his arraignment.
The DCI reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights of genuine landowners and ensuring that fraudsters face the full force of the law.