HUNTED BLACKMAIL SUSPECT VANISHES: Goes Dark After Judge Extortion Plot Exposed

EXCLUSIVE: Accused extortionist refuses to identify himself in court, switches off phones and goes into hiding after threatening senior judge

A man accused of bombarding an Employment and Labour Relations Court judge with threatening messages and attempting to extort Sh10 million has refused to reveal his identity in court, switched off his phones, and gone into hiding.

According to court papers filed in Kiambu, Detective Festus Mate from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations told the court that the suspect, Benson Limo alias Benson Leng’olenyang, is a wanted man who remains on the run.

Detective Mate disclosed that Limo is the main suspect in an ongoing investigation following a complaint by the judge.

He urged the court to compel the suspect to reveal his identity, occupation, and residential address.

The detective told the court that the petition and affidavit filed by Benson Limo show that the petitioner is either evasive or fictitious.

He asked the court to direct that unless Limo discloses who he is, where he works, or what he does for a living as a law-abiding citizen as he describes himself, he must reveal his identity, personal contact, and address.

The detective made these submissions in a replying affidavit filed in response to Limo’s petition seeking to block the DPP and DCI from arresting him.

The detective told the court that the judge visited DCI offices and explained how the suspects were causing him stress and tormenting his family.

He revealed that Limo had sent messages to the judge claiming he had received a Sh10 million bribe through a contact person and failed to deliver on an alleged agreement.

The accusations were strange as the judge did not know them and had no idea what they were talking about.

The court heard that the judge’s ordeal began in Mombasa during a colloquium for judges when he received the threatening messages.

Detective Mate revealed that the judge received a strange message from Ben Limo demanding Sh10 million that he allegedly received as a bribe.

The judge reported the matter to the DCI, which obtained a search warrant against Limo.

In a dramatic twist, after Limo and his accomplice learned that their attempted extortion plan had backfired, they rushed to court and changed their story, now claiming the judge owes them a loan of Sh10 million.

Through his advocate, Limo told the court that sometime within 2024 and 2025, he as an honest citizen advanced a personal loan of Sh10 million to the judge, who failed to pay.

The detective is now requesting that the petitioner provide his personal details or have his orders dismissed.

He told the court in his affidavit that if the petitioner does not provide his personal details immediately, then the court should treat him as a non-existent person or a person out to defeat justice.

Detective Mate said the judge provided all evidence proving he received threats, intimidation, and blackmail from Limo and his group.

He told the court that he asked the judge to print screenshots of the messages sent to his phone by the numbers of individuals whom he stated he did not know, in order for them to accompany his statement, and he readily did so.

The detective wants the court to order Limo to reveal his occupation, contact address, and official contacts.

In his report, the judge revealed that he faced significant cyber harassment and threats, and feared for his life.

The court heard that detectives took the judge’s phone and conducted forensic investigations.

Court papers show that Limo himself sent a WhatsApp message to the judge stating: “Good afternoon Judge, this is Limo, friend to your good friend Opar. I have shared a demand letter on our demand for Sh10 million. Kindly check.”

Another message from a number allegedly linked to the petitioner’s associates contained chilling threats.

Detective Mate told the court that the judge received an initial threat of being captured and lowered alive with a stone tied to his legs to swim with fishes in Lake Victoria.

The detective said the content of messages received from Limo and his associates were connected to a tweet by Mr. Nelson Havi.

More to follow…​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​