Scottish businessman Campbell Scott was likely the victim of a ruthless criminal syndicate that targets wealthy tourists and expatriates, according to disturbing new details.
The businessman went missing in February after checking into a luxurious hotel in Nairobi, triggering an intense search that ended in tragedy when his body was found six days later in Makongo Forest, Makueni County.
The discovery of his body 60 miles from where he was last seen suggested foul play, with authorities linking his murder to an organised crime syndicate.
As of March 11, detectives are still searching for three key suspects in the murder, including one Bernard, believed to be a leader of the notorious gang that targets foreigners.
According to reports, the gang's modus operandi involves luring victims through online dating platforms, with foreign men being among their primary targets.
Using social media and dating apps such as Tinder and Facebook, the gang members deploy female accomplices who set up meetings under the guise of romantic encounters.
The unsuspecting victims arrive at the designated location—usually a rented flat—where they are ambushed and tortured for financial information. In extreme cases, they are murdered.
In Scott’s case, CCTV footage captured him leaving a bar in Westlands with an unidentified man, whom authorities believe is the key suspect.
The Scottish Daily Express reports that the two took a taxi to Pipeline, where Scott was held hostage, tortured for his bank details, and ultimately killed. The outlet also states that KSh 1.9 million (£12,000) was drained from his accounts.
When his remains were discovered, they bore signs of brutal assault, including acid burns.
Notably, the main suspect, Bernard, who remains at large, has been linked to multiple violent robberies in the past.
In one incident, the gang attacked and stripped a preacher in Nairobi, robbing him of his belongings. Bernard has also been charged in absentia for similar crimes against two other foreign nationals—one Indian and one Turkish.
This pattern of crime is not new. In October 2020, the suspect was arrested alongside his cousins for robbing an Israeli national outside Nairobi.
On Friday, March 7, the DCI released images of the three suspects, asking for help from the public in tracking them.
