Kileleshwa Gold Heist: Suspected Mastermind Faces Justice in Ksh.2.85B Scam Case
Kelvin Mwaura Ngotho, accused of orchestrating the Ksh.2.85 billion gold scam with two Malaysian nationals in December 2023, appeared in Milimani Law courts on Wednesday to answer charges connected to the alleged fraudulent scheme.
Ngotho was apprehended on Tuesday by detectives from the Operations Support Unit of the DCI at the courthouse where he had just attended a hearing related to another gold scam case. He is presently on bail for the earlier case.
In this specific instance, Mwaura was accused of conspiring to commit a felony and attempting a felony. Despite pleading not guilty to both charges, Mwaura secured his release by posting a bond of Ksh.3 million or an alternative cash bail of Ksh.1 million.
He was subsequently arrested after his release.
“Operations Support detectives have been pursuing Mwaura since December 27, 2023, being the mastermind of the near-success $19,000,000 gold scam deal orchestrated by an 8-member gang,” the DCI said in a statement.
“Mwaura was the tenant of the Lavington-based premises in which the gang operated, having entered a tenancy agreement with the landlord to use the property as a residential house. On the day the fake gold deal was to be sealed, detectives stormed the house where Mwaura’s seven accomplices were rounded up but he managed to escape.”
Mwaura’s purported partners were apprehended on December 27 the previous year during a transactional meeting aimed at deceiving Malaysian citizens, namely Halid Mohamed and Yaacob Zulkannaaub bin Ramali.
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Two days before the current date, the pair of non-natives arrived in the nation after receiving an invitation from Rock Africa miners. The suspects involved in the operation consist of six Kenyans and one individual from Congo.
The seven include; Didier Muke, Brian Otiende, Patrick Otieno, Mark Kabete, Ken Kiboi, Joshua Ngandi, and Charles Cincent Njerenga.
In a carefully orchestrated plan, the individuals established a functional headquarters in a residence located in Kileleshwa, complete with fully equipped office-like spaces designed to deceive foreign nationals who were unaware of their intentions.
Yacoob and Ramali had scheduled a meeting with the seven individuals on December 27 to conclude arrangements for the initial delivery of 50 kilograms of refined gold. The price per kilogram was set at Ksh.7.2 million.
The gold, weighing 500 kilograms and valued at Ksh.2.85 billion, was intended to be obtained from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Shortly after the meeting began, DCI detectives abruptly entered, causing a disturbance in the proceedings.
Surprisingly, the individuals in question had enlisted the services of a G4S security team to station a guard at the primary entrance while interacting with Malaysian nationals. Subsequently, the G4S security personnel also faced arrest.
Kileleshwa Gold Heist: Suspected Mastermind Faces Justice in Ksh.2.85B Scam Case
