The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a suspect who allegedly obtained millions from Kenyans while posing as an Anti-Corruption official.
In a statement on May 4, 2024, EACC announced the arrest of the woman defrauding the public including government officials while impersonating EACC detectives.
“Following investigations into complaints from the public, EACC has arrested one Ezely Omwoyo, a suspected serial fraudster who has reportedly pocketed millions of shillings by coning Government officials, contractors, suppliers and members of the public,” read part of the statement.
According to the anti-corruption commission, the suspect pocketed the money while pretending to be an EACC Lawyer and Investigator.
Further, EACC reported that the suspect lured unsuspected victims by pretending to have the ability to terminate graft cases at any stage.
EACC Exposes Impersonator
The commission said that preliminary investigations revealed that the “conwoman” first dupes her victims into believing that she is handling sensitive corruption files that incriminate them.
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She then dupes the victims into believing that they could be arrested anytime unless they bribe their way out of trouble.
According to the anti-corruption body, the woman was arrested while in the act on Thursday, May 2.
She was arrested after attempting to defraud a senior Government Official, whom she had summoned to appear before her at EACC Integrity Centre Offices.
The Commission added that before the government official arrived at the Integrity Center, the woman ordered the complainant to first meet her.
“Before he arrived at EACC, Omwoyo ordered the complainant to first meet her at the Nairobi Public Service Club,” said EACC.
It is upon the order that the complainant notified the Commission, and an operation was mounted.
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This led to the arrest of the suspect at the Nairobi Public Service Club while in the process of negotiating for a bribe.
The anti-corruption body further stated that the suspect was held at the Commission’s Integrity Centre Police Station until Friday, March 3, 2024, when she was processed.
According to the Anti-corruption body, the woman faces charges of impersonating an EACC investigator contrary to Section 34(1) as read with Section 34(2) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes, Act.
Corruption report
The arrest of the woman comes after the Commission released worrying trends of corruption-related activities in its National Ethics and Corruption Survey Report, 2023 that was carried out in December last year.
The report provided data on the prevailing perceptions, magnitude, forms and levels of corruption in the country.
It also ranked Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Counties with the findings revealing that six out of 10 Kenyans perceive corruption to be high.
On the other hand, the survey revealed that five out of ten Kenyans perceive that corruption has been increasing and that giving and receiving bribes, abuse of office, favoritism, nepotism and deliberate delay in service provision are perceived as the leading forms of corruption and unethical conduct in public service.
It also listed the Police, Immigration Department and Registrar of Persons as government departments perceived as most prone to corruption, with greed and desire for quick services as major causes of corruption in public service.
Corruption, the report highlights, has hampered economic growth, affected living standards and increased the cost of living leading to unemployment and poverty.
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