Police arrest two gold scammers in fake Sh18 million scam on Swiss national
Two gold scammers were arrested in a suspected scam involving a Swiss national. Authorities intensified the search for additional individuals linked to the scheme.
This followed a complaint lodged by Stephane Pierre Harder through his agent, Ulrich Kenney, a Gabonese national.
According to the police, on April 14, 2025, the complainant was allegedly lured into a fraudulent sale agreement for a 20-kilogram gold consignment purportedly destined for shipment to Dubai.
In the course of the transaction, the complainant paid USD 140,000 as logistical fees through Kandiki & Advocates to facilitate transportation of the consignment. However, no shipment was made, raising suspicion of a well-orchestrated fraud.
Detectives moved into action and arrested the suspects for grilling.
The case file was subsequently forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which, upon review, recommended prosecution of the suspects on the following counts where Kayembe Malamba Eli, Benold Okoth, Kelvin Otieno Onyango alias Sonko and Seth Steve Okute will face Conspiracy to defraud (Section 317 of the Penal Code).
On Obtaining money by false pretence, Kelvin Otieno Onyango alias Sonko, Benold Okoth and Esther Bituku Kandiki of Kandiki & Advocates will face the charges.
Police arrested Seth Steve Okute and Kelvin Otieno Onyango alias Sonko.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend Esther Bituku Kandiki, an advocate linked to the law firm through which the funds were reportedly channelled.
Authorities have indicated that investigations remain active, with a focus on tracking additional suspects and recovering the lost funds.
Onyango was in 2024 arraigned following his arrest at his office in Kilimani area at China WU-YI Plaza.
Acting on intelligence, OSU detectives raided his office along Galana Rd,and upon search recovered assorted company documents, stamps, seals and forged mining licenses purported to have been issued by the Ministry of Mining.
The suspect was charged with 10 counts of making a document without authority and Forgery.
He pleaded not guilty to all counts and was granted Sh300,000 bond or a cash bail of Sh200,000.
In 2023, detectives recovered two firearms and over 470 rounds of ammunition of 9mm and 5.56 mm calibre, after arresting 10 suspects believed to have defrauded $534,000 USD (Sh67.3 Million) from two American citizens.
The detectives who were acting on intelligence leads arrested eight Kenyans, one Indian and a Greek citizen in two separate raids at Nairobi’s upmarket Kitusuru and Kilimani suburbs, in one of the latest scams targeting foreign investors.
Seth Steve Okuthe, the Director NewSkys Global Cargo Movers and Brunoh Otieno Oliende alias Oyugi were the first to be arrested following a report made by Marjorie R. Grant, an American based investor living Los Angeles, California.
His arrest led to the arrest of the second suspect Brunoh at his palatial home in Kitusuru, where heavy metallic boxes suspected to be used in storage of crucial exhibits were recovered.
The eight other suspects Samuel Wathika Gathuru, Kaisarios Loamms (Greece citizen), Odhiambo Tobias Patrobas, Oketch Moses, Patrick Mugabe, Elisha Mbandi, Teddy Zamora and Siva Sakthi Veru (Indian citizen) were arrested in unmarked offices along Maalim Juma road within Kilimani area.
Following the raid, Samuel Waithaka was found in possession of a Sigsauer P229 Pistol while his accomplice Steve Okute was found in possession of a Baretta pistol loaded with 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
A Gilboa riffle suspected to have been using the 5.56mm ammo was found missing during the raid.
A thorough search was also conducted in the offices leading to the recovery of 3 laptops, suspected mineral stones coated in gold and silver colours, a Cheque book issued by a local bank, briefcase containing metal analyser tools, cash counting machines, rubber stamp inscribed Bukule Tereno Advocates Kinshasa and assorted metal rods.
It is while the detectives were conducting the raid that they found the arrested Indian National Siva Sakthi Veru, who had just jetted into the country, in the process of being defrauded over Sh25 million and saved him from the fraudulent deal.