Wash Wash: Fraudster Behind Sh2.5B Gold Scam Charged In Nairobi

DCI detectives have arrested a man believed to be the mastermind behind the Sh 2.8 billion gold scam and has been charged.

Kelvin Mwaura Ngotho is accused of conspiring to commit a felony namely stealing USD 19,000,000 (approx Sh 2.85 billion) from Halid Bin Mohd Yaacob by falsely pretending that you were in a position to sell to him 500 KGS of gold, a fact he knew to be false.

Ngotho is alleged to have committed the offense on diverse dates between 19th October 2023 and 27th December 2023 at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya jointly with others not before court.

The accused is also charged with attempt to commit a felony namely stealing the Sh 2.85 billion from Yacoob on 27th December 2023 at Kileleshwa area in Nairobi jointly with others already before court.

He denied the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki and was released on a cash bail of Sh 1 million.

According to the police, Mwaura was the tenant of the house in leafy suburbs of Lavington from which a gang of scammers operated.

Investigations revealed that he had entered into a tenancy agreement with the landlord to use the property as a residential house.

On the day the fake gold deal was to be sealed, DCI officers stormed the house where Mwaura’s seven accomplices were rounded up but he managed to escape.

Fake Gold

In December last year, the DCI Operations Support Unit (OSU) stormed into the Lavington residence and arrested several suspects involved in the mega gold scam that targeted two Malaysian nationals, and recovered multiple tools of trade involved in the  botched fraudulence.

Having received intelligence reports through Kilimani Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer on the scamming deal planned against the two foreign men, the OSU deployed a surveillance team after the two victims jetted in the country.

Reportedly, the scammers using Rock Africa Minier company had contacted the complainants as from 19th October, 2023 through a social media platform. The suspects had alleged to transact with them 500Kg of Gold at USD 19 million equivalent to Sh2.85 billion. In the deal, the complainants had already sent USD 6,350 to members of the gang based in Cameroon who referred the two to their Kenyan accomplices.

The scammers were trailed as they picked the two foreigners from their hotel Four Points By Sheraton along Argwings Kodhek road in Kilimani using a Toyota Noah Reg No. KCW 835U.

They were taken to an office in a private house along Mageta Road within Kileleshwa where the surveillance team followed closely before the main gate was shut locking them out.

As the sleuths stealthily gained entry into the compound, some suspects jumped over the fence at the back side of the compound, leading to a chase that saw 7 of them arrested including two escapees. The suspects who included two G4S security guards are; Didier Muke (a Congolese with a pending case and passport deposited in court), Brian Otiende, Patrick Otieno, Joshua Ngandi, Charles Vincent Njerenga (whisked from a getaway bike and in hospital), Mark Kabete (G4S) and Ken Kiboi (G4S).
The scene was processed and several exhibits recovered including metallic boxes, 84 gold coated metallic bars, smelting tools, computers, documents and stamps for Ace Point International Limited and assorted G4S uniforms.

Also recovered and believed to be proceeds of crime include the following motor vehicles:
a) Toyota Noah white in colour Reg no. KCW 835U
b) Toyota Crown black in colour Reg no. KDB 090W
c) Mercedes Benz white in colour Reg no. KCQ 138T
d) Toyota G-Touring white in colour Reg no. KAX 260R
e) Toyota double cab Reg no. KCH 622T branded G4S.