Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested suspects linked to the KSh5.2 million fraud scheme in the Attorney General’s office.
According to the DCI, the three suspects arrested had siphoned KSh 5,226,735 from the Public Trustee Administration Estates Account under the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice.
“Detectives have arrested three suspects linked to a sophisticated fraud syndicate that siphoned Sh5,226,735 from the Public Trustee Administration Estates Account under the Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice,” a statement from the DCI dated May 14 read.
Upon investigations, the detectives found out that the money was illegally wired through two fraudulent transactions to personal bank accounts.
Transactions to the personal bank accounts were wired in the amount of KSh 2,413,896 in the first transaction and KSh 2,813,989.
Detective Fraud Investigation Conclusion
DCI noted that the fraud scheme was carried out using forged documents and fraudulent account details.
Following the suspicious transactions and account details, the detectives launched an investigation.
Through the money trail identified by the detectives, seven suspects behind the state office fraud were identified.
In addition to tracing the fraudulent transactions, the investigating team forwarded the case file to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) upon conclusion of the investigation.
ODPP approved charges against the seven suspects identified by the DCI, leading to the arrest of three of the seven suspects connected to the fraud.
Geoffrey Kipkemoi Langat, Patrick Ngandu Nderitu, and Timothy Kipchumba Cheboi were among the suspects arrested on May 13 in connection with the fraud.
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Charges Against the Arrested Suspects
According to the DCI, the three suspects currently under arrest face multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud.
Further, the suspects are being charged with stealing, forgery, and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
DCI has noted that the three are currently undergoing processing ahead of the arraignment in court on May 14.
The detectives are still pursuing the remaining four suspects who are on the run.
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Recent Fraud Cases
The report came weeks after the DCI dismissed reports linking officials to a fraud scheme involving alleged access to government facilities in mid-March.
DCI noted that the fraud scheme targeting foreign investors involved impersonation by officials from the Ministry of Interior, the National Treasury, and the Ministry of Health.
“The suspects were masquerading as officials from the Ministry of Interior, the National Treasury, and the Ministry of Health, and had lured two foreign nationals into a fictitious government tender for the supply of 500 Toyota Hiace High Roof ambulances,” part of the DCI statement read.
Further, the DCI explained that the seven suspects arrested used forged documents to demand facilitation fees from Swedish nationals.
