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Three arrested for robbing Australian couple Sh9m in fake gold deal in Runda

They reportedly lured Australian couple from Uganda, assaulted them in Runda

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by CYRUS OMBATI

News02 November 2023 - 06:14
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In Summary


  • According to police, the couple was lured from Kampala, Uganda where they were visiting on October 28.
  • They had a long conversation through WhatsApp where they agreed on a number of issues, police say.
STAR ILLUSTRATION

Three men were on Wednesday arrested over claims they lured, assaulted and robbed an Australian couple of Sh9 million in a fake gold deal in Nairobi’s Runda area.

The men were trailed to the Glory Road in Runda where they had lured the couple to and subjected them to orgies.

The woman in the incident told police she was sexually assaulted.

According to police, the couple was lured from Kampala, Uganda where they were visiting on October 28.

While in Uganda, they were connected by a friend to the Kenyan who told them he had gold he would sell them at a cheaper price.

They had a long conversation through WhatsApp where they agreed on several issues, police said.

Thinking the deal was too good, the two flew to Nairobi and met the said seller at an upmarket mall in Runda on October 28.

After a brief chat, they agreed to drive to the house where the cargo was on Glory Road in Runda.

According to the couple, on arrival at the house, they met at least 10 men who attacked and robbed them of US$60,000, a gold necklace worth US$10,000 and a Rolex watch worth US$20,000.

They broke the man’s left hand and injured him in the face, back and stomach.

He said he was strangled in the drama and was threatened with death.

The men also indecently touched the woman and slapped her as they snatched her gold necklace.

She said they handcuffed her and forced them to apologise for wrongly coming to Kenya.

They were later bundled onto the same four-wheel drive car at night and abandoned outside Rehema House in the Central Business District.

They said they were treated at a hospital with South B and made a report to the Gigiri police station on the drama.

Police raided the home and recovered some of the stolen property on Wednesday in an operation arresting the three.

Police said they are searching for more men in the case. The suspects in custody are expected in court to face robbery with violence charges.

DCI boss Mohamed Amin said the issue is part of the fake gold claims being made by cartels on the loose.

Police have urged embassies and high commissions to advice their nationals coming in for business, Kenya does not hold any huge consignments of gold.

"The gold scam has now reached alarming levels as unsuspecting foreign nationals are being swindled large amounts of money by fraudsters,” Amin said.

He said Kenyans and foreign nationals must ensure that they conduct due diligence on the person(s) they intend to engage in the gold-buying business.

Dozens of foreigners have in the past been arrested in Kenya and deported for being engaged in fake gold deals.

Some of the Kenyans involved in the deals are also facing various charges in court.


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