- Upon arrival at the Mua Hills, the mastermind called the victim's family back in China demanding an unestablished amount of ransom.
- After the money was deposited, the gang's accomplices in China confirmed that the family had complied, and the victim was released.
Image: The Star
Three police officers suspected of involvement in a foreign national's kidnapping in Mlolongo in Machakos County on January 8, 2024, were Wednesday arraigned at Mavoko Law Courts.
Police were allowed to hold the officers all attached to the General Service Unit for a week as investigations into the claims went on.
This is after the prosecution sought custodial orders to finalise investigations as the manhunt for the kidnapping mastermind gains momentum.
In the incident that has unearthed an international criminal ring whose targets are well-picked after a background check on their financial muscles, the victim who is a Chinese national was waylaid on his way to work, where two cars blocked his vehicle before the suspects cuffed him and sped off towards Machakos direction.
After hours of disappearance, concerned friends reported to the police about the businessman who never arrived at his workplace as expected, where detectives forensically traced him to Mua Hills in Machakos.
But even as a team was being deployed to the area in search for him, according to police, the panic-stricken victim resurfaced at Athi River and narrated his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers who also robbed him violently.
Police have since established that five men including a Chinese national who is the mastermind, a taxi driver and the three police officers had executed the kidnapping.
Upon arrival at the Mua Hills, the mastermind called the victim's family back in China demanding an unestablished amount of ransom, which was wired to a bank account in China.
After the money was deposited, the gang's accomplices in China confirmed that the family had complied, and the victim was released.
Swinging into action, Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Crime Research and Intelligence detectives initiated a systematic probe into the abduction right from Mombasa Road, where two vehicles were picked as vehicles of interest.
On Friday, January 12, the taxi was traced to Rongai and the owner was arrested.
He however informed the police that on the day in question, a friend of his had borrowed his car while he (the owner) took his kids to school on the reporting day.
Investigations revealed that the named suspect who is still at large was a former staff at the victim's company, and had been in constant communication with the arrested officers.
The forensic analysis placed the four at the scene of the crime. Further investigations has also led to the recovery of the vehicle which has been detained at Mlolongo Police Station, police said.
As the search for the master planner in the kidnapping of fellow Chinese nationals continues, Interpol operations have also been launched to pursue the gang's accomplices in China.
Police say they are investigating to establish if there is a bigger cartel behind the incident.