By Grace Gilo
Detectives drawn from the Operations Action Team (OAT) and the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) have arrested a robbery-with-violence suspect who staged a gunpoint heist against a charcoal vendor.
The suspect, 49-year-old James Kanyi Gachara, made away with Sh200,000 in Mukurweini Sub-County.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Gachara was apprehended after the victim reported the crime to authorities. The incident occurred in the Nguyoini area, where the charcoal dealer was lured into a trap under the pretense of securing a lucrative sale.
“Posing as a customer, Gachara informed him that a friend required 20 sacks of charcoal. Although the trader had insufficient stock, he quickly mobilised his suppliers to meet the demand,” the DCI revealed.
Once the charcoal was gathered, the victim was ambushed by Gachara and accomplices in a numberless Toyota Prado SUV. The gang forced him into the vehicle, where they assaulted him and demanded his Equitel account PIN at gunpoint. They then withdrew Sh200,000 from the victim’s account before abandoning him on the ground.
“After the robbery, the victim was pushed out of the SUV and held at gunpoint by a female accomplice before the vehicle sped off towards Mukurweini,” stated the DCI.
Moments later, a red motorcycle picked up the armed woman, disappearing in the same direction, leaving the victim lying helpless on the ground.
Thanks to forensic intelligence, detectives tracked down and arrested the suspect, who is currently in custody, undergoing processing pending arraignment.
In the meantime, detectives are pursuing additional leads to apprehend and bring to book his accomplices who remain at large.