A Congolese businessman was on Tuesday, November 5, arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) nabbed 41-year-old Ledivin Mupanga on arrival from Ethiopia, following a stop order placed by officers from the Serious Crime Unit.
According to the investigators, Mupanga was accused of obtaining Ksh 9,750,000 from a complainant with the promise to deliver gold in March 2019.
"He is in lawful custody awaiting arraignment in court today (November 6, 2019). Further investigations are ongoing," an excerpt of DCI's statement read.
Many Kenyans have fallen victim to fraudsters who pretend to sell gold to unsuspecting clients.
In May 2019, a German national, Muhammet Mertoglu, who claimed to have lost Ksh23 million in a gold scam orchestrated by Samir Munyinyi, revealed how such conmen are able to operate with impunity.
Mertoglu spoke to the Daily Nation during his 4th trip to Kenya in an effort to retrieve his money but with little success so far.
“This cartel knows how to use the law and they are well connected. They can intercept police files whenever they want,” he divulged.
The many instances of gold scamming made the DCI sound an alarm, advising members of the public to be on high alert.
In a May 9, 2019, Twitter post, the sleuths urged foreign embassies to advise their citizens coming to Kenya for gold related business to always confirm with the Department of Mines and Geology for procedures of buying and selling gold.
"DCI wishes to inform the general public and the foreign nationals in particular that they must ensure that they conduct proper due diligence on the person(s)they intend to engage in the gold buying business," cautioned the DCI.
