A foreign national was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in connection with a fake gold scam and has since been remanded at the Industrial Area Remand Prison in Nairobi.
The suspect was taken into custody earlier this month for allegedly defrauding two businessmen—a Romanian and a Swiss national—of Ksh15,504,000 (USD 120,000).
Following his arrest, detectives from the Kenya Airport Police Unit (KAPU) obtained a 12-day custodial order on February 4, 2025, to allow for further investigations. During this period, authorities collected evidence linking him to the fraudulent operation.
“The suspect is implicated in a gold scam that left two businessmen—a Romanian and a Swiss national—seeking justice after losing Ksh15,504,000 (USD 120,000) to the fraudster,” a statement from the DCI added.
Investigators revealed that the suspect pretended to be a legitimate gold dealer, enticing his victims with promises of profitable deals before disappearing with their funds.
He was formally charged in court, where the prosecution opposed his release on bail, citing concerns about the risk of flight and the complexity of the ongoing investigation.
According to investigative agencies, the suspect was charged with multiple offences, including possession of a firearm without a certificate and forgery, among others.
“Upon his arraignment, the DCI-FCIO team pressed multiple charges against the suspect, including Obtaining Money by False Pretences, Possession of a Firearm Without a Firearm Certificate, Possession of Ammunition Without a Firearm Certificate, Creating a False Document, and Forgery of an Official Document,” a statement from the DCI read in part.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges before the Senior Principal Magistrate’s Court at the JKIA Law Court.
The case is scheduled for a mention on March 3, 2025, pending the determination of the charges pressed against him.
The case comes three weeks after a similar crackdown in which detectives arrested five individuals involved in a gold scam targeting foreign nationals.
Investigations revealed that the suspects had deceived their victims by claiming that the gold was stored in a warehouse at JKIA awaiting clearance and would be transported on January 20, 2025, once payment was made.
