The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday, December 2, cautioned Kenyans who own land to be cautious of individuals claiming to be developers.
In a statement, detectives urged citizens to exercise care whenever entering into agreements with such developers.
“We wish to caution landowners, especially those in upscale suburbs, about an organized criminal ring targeting their parcels of land with the intent of obtaining hefty sums of money using forged documents. To lower the risk of early detection and carry out their fraudulent activities, the cartel primarily targets landowners entering into joint ventures with developers,” the statement read in part.
According to DCI, the criminal enterprise often comes into play when developers approach individuals with underdeveloped parcels of land, where both parties agree on profitable terms for the development of the property.
DCI arrests a notorious land fraudster
More often than not, these agreements require the landowner to obtain certificates of lease, which has become the primary target for the fraudsters.
The DCI further referred to a recent incident involving a Pumwani-based resident, who was the victim could have lost his two parcels of land had a keen developer not sought the services of a thorough city advocate.
He (the victim), however, lost Ksh 553,550 to the cartel that posed as staff at the Nairobi County Lands Registry.
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One suspect, who allegedly approached the victim with a promise to get him certificates of lease for both parcels of land was arrested and arraigned at Milimani Law Courts on Monday December 2, after his gang issued the victim with forged documents and obtained the stated amount of money.
The DCI noted that most of the suspects implicated in the case are renowned gold scammers and have now ventured into hoodwinking landowners into buying fake lease documents.
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Further the criminal investigative body cautioned landowners to ensure due diligence whenever dealing with any land-related matters, given the emotive nature of land issues that often trigger regrettable consequences.
Past incident of land fraud case
A similar land fraud incident occurred on August 5, when a group of fraudsters was arrested by a multi-agency team drawn from various security agencies. The suspects were accused of forging land documents and committing land-related offences targeting both public and private properties across the country.
The operation was led by Mr. Wilhem Kimutai, the Officer-in-Charge of the Land Fraud Investigations Unit at DCI Headquarters.
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Acting on court orders issued on August 1, 2024, by the Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court in Nairobi, detectives who had been investigating multiple reported cases linked to the suspects raided their operation bases.
Benedict Mwangangi Ngala and Joel Kaluki Mwangangi were apprehended at Anpemu House along Ngara Road. Meanwhile, Sylvester Mwanzia Mwanthi and Erick Omondi Ojwang were arrested while attempting to deliver several suspicious title deeds to the first two suspects.
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