The main suspect in a Sh2.85 billion gold scam involving two Malaysian nationals was Wednesday arraigned at a Milimani court over an abortive deal involving 50kg in fake gold.
The DCI said Kelvin Mwaura Ngotho was arrested on Tuesday at the court premises where he had appeared for the hearing of yet another gold scam case in which he is out on bond.
“Operations Support detectives have been pursuing Mwaura since December 27, 2023, being the mastermind of the near-success $19,000,000 (Sh2.78m) gold scam deal orchestrated by an 8-member gang,” DCI boss Mohamed Amin said in a statement.
He said investigations established that Mwaura was the tenant of an apartment unit in Lavington where the gang operated from.
Mwaura had entered a tenancy agreement with the landlord to use the property as a residential house, he added.
“On the day when the deal involving 50kg in fake gold was to be sealed, detectives stormed the house where Mwaura's seven accomplices were rounded up but he managed to escape. They have since been arraigned,” Amin said.
He said Mwaura was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and attempt to commit a felony.
He pleaded not guilty to both charges and was admitted to a bond of Sh3 million or alternative cash bail of Sh1 million.
Senior principal magistrate R.K Ondieki set the mention of the case for March 13 at the same court.
On Monday, another prime suspect in a 52kg gold scam deal in which an American national was defrauded $434,100 (Sh63,595,650) a year ago was charged on Monday.
Jackson Karungo Kahora’s arraignment followed his arrest at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last Friday, February 23, 2024.
Amin said in a statement he was arrested by detectives at the airport as he attempted to flee to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
“The suspect was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, obtaining money by false pretences and two counts of uttering a false document,” the DCI said.
“He pleaded not guilty to all counts and was granted a Sh600,000 bond or a cash bail of Sh300,000.”
Scandals involving fake gold have been an unending menace in the city despite potential victims being warned by police to be cautious.
