The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has revealed the number used to con Ksh10 million from Sameer Africa by seven criminals, William Simiyu, David Luganya, Gilbert Kirunja, Duncan Muchai, Isaac Wajekeche, Joseph Waswa and Anthony Wafula who purported to be State House operatives.
A search by Kenyans.co.ke shows that the number, 0722208842, is registered on True Caller as 'Uhuru Kenyatta President'.
The suspects used the number to contact Sameer Africa Chairman Nashud Merali in the pretext of being President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Mimicking the president, one of the suspects solicited money to facilitate the purchase of a piece of land from the businessman.
Merali, who was out of the country, then gave instructions to the Finance Director Akif Hamid Butt to process a payment of Ksh10 million.
On Monday, Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ooko was told that Butt was given an account number where he deposited the money before realising he had been duped and reported the matter to authorities.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions declined to charge them but asked for the court to detain the suspects longer as police conclude investigations.
“Due to the complexity of the investigations and the number of suspects involved, including some who are still at large, it is expected that the investigation will involve going through voluminous documents including bank documents and call data records analysis,” Corporal James Mwangi told the court.
The magistrate ordered the suspects be held at Muthaiga Police Station awaiting a ruling on their bail application on February 5, 2019.
Police have seized a Toyota Land Cruiser, a Toyota Mark X, a Toyota Axio and a Toyota Crown in connection with the syndicate.
During the court proceedings, defence lawyer Cliff Ombeta claimed that the number belonged to the president and argued that he had received communication through it in the past.
