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Foreigners positively identify fake gold scam masterminds – VIDEO


Jared Otieno and two other accused persons in the ongoing fake gold case, have been positively identified by foreign nationals as having been conned millions of shillings.

The flamboyant city businessman, who is in police custody to allow detectives complete investigations into the alleged fraud and obtaining money by false pretenses, has been further linked to 15 people arrested and arraigned in court after a raid at the Kileleshwa house where officers carted away large black boxes said to contain the fake gold.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has said they have received complaints from a number of foreign nationals who say they have been conned millions of shillings by Otieno and two others who are also implicated in the Sh300 million case.

Philip Nashon Aroko and Robert Paul Owiti, who both pleaded not guilty after they were charged with conspiracy to defraud Sounthorn Chanthavong from Lao, are among those identified.

GENUINE GOLD

During the transaction, Mr Chanthavong is said to have lost an equivalent of Sh300 million after he was duped that the items he bought were genuine gold.

Detectives believe the three colluded with foreign associates of fake gold marketers who were deployed in Ghana, Congo, Uganda and Kenya and booked in expensive hotels.

Two Chad nationals and a Congolese are also among those arrested in last week’s raid.

DEFRAUD FOREIGNERS

Intelligent sources close to the investigations say the cartel has been colluding with a number of Members of Parliament, rogue police officers, the judiciary, immigration staff from JKIA and some bankers to defraud foreigners and unsuspecting clients millions of shillings.

Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti has since said they have solid leads on suspects involved in the fake gold racket in Kilimani; some of whom are influential politicians, businessmen, lawyers and judicial officers.

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, who is currently out of the country, is also expected to be summoned to shed light on a leaked audio recording that implicates him in the fake gold scam.

Politician Zaheer Jhanda, who recently spoke out over his links to the royal family in Dubai, is also expected to record a statement at the DCI headquarters.

The accused will return to court on Monday to hear their bail ruling.