Detectives have recovered two firearms and over 470 rounds of ammunition of 9mm and 5.56 mm calibre, after arresting 10 suspects believed to have defrauded $534,000 USD (Ksh 67.3 Million) from two American citizens.
In one of the latest high-level fake gold scams targeting foreign investors, the detectives who were acting on intelligence leads arrested 8 Kenyans, one Indian and a Greek citizen in two separate raids at Nairobi’s upmarket Kitusuru and Kilimani suburbs.
Seth Steve Okuthe, the Director NewSkys Global Cargo Movers and Brunoh Otieno Oliende alias Oyugi were the first to be arrested following a report made by Marjorie R. Grant, an American-based investor living in Los Angeles, California.
His arrest led to the arrest of the second suspect Brunoh at his palatial home in Kitusuru, where heavy metallic boxes suspected to be used in the storage of crucial exhibits were recovered.
The 8 other suspects Samuel Wathika Gathuru, Kaisarios Loamms (Greece citizen), Odhiambo Tobias Patrobas, Oketch Moses, Patrick Mugabe, Elisha Mbandi, Teddy Zamora and Siva Sakthi Veru (Indian citizen) were arrested in unmarked offices along Maalim Juma road within the Kilimani area.
Following the raid, Samuel Waithaka was found in possession of a Sigsauer P229 Pistol while his accomplice Steve Okute was found in possession of a Baretta pistol loaded with 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
A Gilboa rifle suspected to have been using the 5.56mm ammo was found missing during the raid.
A thorough search was also conducted in the offices leading to the recovery of 3 laptops, suspected mineral stones coated in gold and silver colours, a chequebook issued by a local bank, a briefcase containing metal analyser tools, cash counting machines, rubber stamp inscribed Bukule Tereno Advocates Kinshasa and assorted metal rods.
It is while the detectives were conducting the raid that they found out that an Indian National, Siva Sakthi Veru, who had just jetted into the country, was in the process of being defrauded over Ksh 25 Million.
The suspects are currently in custody assisting detectives with investigations before being arraigned in court.