Two Iranian Nationals Arrested in Thika Over Mobile Phone Scam

Two Iranian nationals have been arrested by detectives in Thika after they were linked to a mobile phone scam that left a Kenyan shopkeeper Sh15,000 poorer.

In a statement, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspects, 56-year-old Heidari Mansoior Eslam and 40-year-old Babaei Ahmad Mirzaaga, were arrested after they visited a mobile phone shop pretending to be customers.

The shopkeeper became suspicious and believed the two were the same people who had conned another trader in the area a month earlier. He quickly called a fellow shop owner, who confirmed that the two foreigners were the same suspects who had stolen Sh15,000 from him using similar tricks.

Members of the public raised an alarm and tried to confront the suspects, but police arrived in time and rescued them before the situation turned violent.

The DCI said the two are now being held at Thika Police Station as investigations continue, ahead of their arraignment in court.