‪Detectives Nab Brazilian Sugar Fraud Mastermind ‬

A major breakthrough in a high-profile fraud case unfolded today as Abdirizak Kassim Bare, a 46-year-old suspected mastermind behind a Brazilian sugar importation scam, was arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts.

The arrest marks a significant victory for the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), which has been relentlessly pursuing a criminal syndicate responsible for swindling four businesspersons out of over Sh 100 million.

According to a statement from the DCI, the elaborate fraud scheme took place between May and October 2023.

The victims, lured by the promise of importing 15,000 bags of sugar from Brazil, transferred substantial sums totaling more than Sh 100 million into five different bank accounts controlled by the fraud ring.

However, after the payments were made, the supposed deal evaporated, leaving the businesspersons in financial ruin as the perpetrators disappeared without delivering the promised goods.

What ensued was months of frustration for the victims, who described their efforts to track down the fraudsters as a “wild goose chase.” Broke and desperate, they turned to the DCI for help.

The agency’s Operation Support Unit launched a meticulous investigation, unraveling the syndicate’s operations and gathering evidence that was later presented to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP).

The ODPP reviewed the findings and recommended the arrest and prosecution of the suspects, charging them with eight counts, including obtaining money by false pretenses—an offense under Section 313 of the Penal Code.

Armed with arrest warrants, DCI officers moved swiftly, apprehending Kassim Bare in an early morning operation today.

During his arraignment, Kassim Bare pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court granted him a Sh 3 million bond with an alternative cash bail of Sh 500,000, pending further proceedings.

Authorities have vowed to continue their manhunt for the remaining members of the syndicate, signaling that this arrest is just the beginning of their efforts to dismantle the criminal network.