The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Saturday detailed how its officers tracked down a wanted politician who had been trailed for months on suspicion of running a fake gold scheme.
According to the investigative agency, the politician who vied for a parliamentary seat in the 2022 polls had evaded police for months until Friday, October 6, when he booked a flight to Kisumu from Nairobi.
Detectives got wind of his itinerary and swung into action after the politician booked the flight using his details at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
DCI detailed that the politician had already taken his seat on the plane at the time of his arrest.
"He was ejected from a Kisumu-bound flight yesterday afternoon by hawk-eyed detectives who had gotten wind of his last-minute travel itinerary.
"The suspect has been engaging detectives in cat and mouse games and is wanted in connection to a case where he defrauded two Thai nationals over Ksh13 million in a fake gold deal," DCI detailed in its report.
After the arrest, detectives also carried out an operation at the suspect's house in Lavington with several items, including gold-looking bars and export seals recovered.
A dust coat branded by the Ministry of Mining and digital weighing scales were also recovered.
DCI added that the politician was also arrested after his accomplice was apprehended in August. Reports alleged that the accomplice cooperated with the police to track down the wanted suspect.
The duo was alleged to have posed a businessman dealing in gold before receiving the payment from the nationals from Thailand.
Detectives added that the duo's operations were well-planned as they once convinced foreigners to jet into the country in April for a fake deal. However, the duo failed to deliver on their promise.
After falling prey to the syndicate, the foreigners reported the matter to the Royal Thai Embassy, who sought DCI's intervention.
Sleuths are currently holding the politician at Buruburu Police Station pending arraignment in court on Monday.
