A man pretending to be an Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detective has been arrested following investigations into numerous complaints from victims of extortion.
In a statement, EACC revealed they arrested the suspected serial imposter who had been defrauding Kenyans while posing as the commission’s assistant director of intelligence operations.
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“In that fake capacity, Kennedy Ochieng Agutu has reportedly extorted millions of shillings from many victims, including senior state officials, pretending to be carrying out corruption investigations implicating them, which he promises to sort out,” the statement read in part.
Agutu was arrested at his hideout in South C and escorted to the EACC Integrity Centre Police Station where he was processed.
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He will be detained at Kilimani Police Station pending further action on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
How the Suspect Conned Individuals
The suspect used fake identity cards to con unsuspecting members of the public.
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“The commission recovered two fake staff identification cards for EACC and an entity called Kenya Network Against Corruption (Director – Intelligence & Data Survey), under the suspect’s name. The commission has noted an influx in the number of fraudsters posing as its detectives,” EACC added.
Additionally, the EACC explained that there have been increased cases of fake identities used by fraudsters to swindle Kenyans.
“In 2024 alone, the commission has encountered over 350 cases of fake detectives conning Kenyans while pretending to be officers of EACC or other law enforcement agencies on official duty,” the commission expounded.
Also Read: EACC Arrests 11 Govt Officials Over Ksh17 Million Public Funds Loss
The Extend of the EACC Fraud in Kenya
Furthermore, the EACC disclosed that some imposters, especially in Kakamega, Bungoma, and Busia counties, have even established fake EACC offices and offering EACC services for pay.
“For instance, an entity by the name Anti-Corruption Investigations Agency has allegedly been receiving money from the public to address corruption-related conflicts,” the statement revealed.
Moreover, EACC explained that fraudsters issue fake EACC integrity clearance certificates for candidates seeking employment at a fee, a service offered by the commission-free of charge.
Also Read: Oparanya Clarifies Corruption Case Cited by EACC
Other perpetrators claim to carry out investigations, arrests, and search operations on their targets then demand huge bribes promising to skew the investigations in their favour or waive potential criminal charges.
Besides, some EACC imposters invade people’s business premises claiming that they are inspecting compliance with various licensing requirements or counterfeit goods.
The commission has urged Kenyans who come across suspicious people to contact them to avoid being victims of fraud.
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