Five suspects were Tuesday arrested in a police operation after defrauding a Korean national Sh2.9 million, on the pretext that they would sell him gold.
The five were arrested following a complaint by one Song Sung, who had initially been shown some well parked bars that he was made to believe were made of gold.
The victim had earlier been directed to a company known as Ekweme enterprises in Karen suburbs, where he was shown the supposed gold.
He told police he was led to the establishment by proxies believed to have been working in cahoots with the fraudsters, who immediately went into hiding after receiving the money.
Robinson Gitau, 35, Livai Kombo, 39, Fatuma Mohammed, 28, Eva Kimotho, 36 and a Cameroonian national Utia Kugi, 36, were arrested in a police operation.
Boxes containing fake gold bars concealed in steel boxes were recovered. The suspects will be arraigned with charges of obtaining with false pretence.
This is the latest such incident to be reported to the police involving foreigners and where unsuspecting buyers are conned of millions for being eager to get gold.
Director of Criminal Investigations boss George Kinoti urged Embassies and High Commissions to advise their nationals coming in for business Kenya doesn’t 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,” he said.
Kinoti said Kenyans and foreign nationals must ensure that they conduct proper 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 the fake gold deals.
