Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations are set to fly out to Dubai on Tuesday night to record a statement from the representative of the United Arab Emirates’ ruler about the Sh400 million gold scam.
The investigators will interrogate Ali Zandi, a representative of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Zandi also represents the Zlivia Company, a gold trading company based in Dubai. Its missing gold is reported to have been seized at JKIA in transit from the DRC to Dubai.
Zandi conducts business on behalf of Sheik Maktoum and has been in Kenya several times to follow up on his cargo, having paid millions of shilling for a first consignment.
Nothing was delivered.
Maktoum complained to President Uhuru Kenyatta that his gold had been seized and detained at JKIA for months on its way to Dubai from DR Congo.
When the President investigated, he learned that there was no such gold and ordered the crackdown on those involved.
The investigators have stepped up their work after Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji ordered Inspector General Hillary Mutyiambai to investigate reports that a group of Kenyans may have conned Al Maktoum out of millions of shillings.
The police have until Wednesday next week to hand over their findings to Haji.
While in Dubai, the investigators will try to obtain all possible evidence that may include audio, documents, pictures and video footage to help convict those involved.
Once they have the statement from Zandi, the police will summon those mentioned to record their own statements before charges are drawn up and possible arrests made.
Leaked audio put Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula at the heart of the fake gold scandal, making the Ford Kenya leader a person of interest.
In the audio conversation, Wetang’ula dropped the names of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition chief Raila Odinga to assure a Dubai gold investor, believed to be Ali Zandi, that their detained consignment would be released.
The usually vocal senator has been silent on the issue. He has not been replying to repeated text messages or returning calls.
Deputy President William Ruto has defended President Kenyatta and asked those involved to leave the President’s name out of the scam.
“I tell our brothers in the opposition not to import their bad habits to Jubilee. They should shun engaging in dirty deals, corruption and conning others,” the Deputy President said.
“These people who are political conmen turned business conmen should carry their cross alone,” Ruto said in Endebes in Trans Nzoia on Saturday.
The police have also identified Zaheer Jhanda as a person of interest in the conning of Maktoum. Jhanda has denied the claims and insisted that his role was limited to ensuring that Zandi paid all government taxes before the gold was exported.
“The gold is still in DR Congo. I will go to the DCI but who is the complainant?” he asked in an interview over the weekend.
Investigators said Jhanda is said to have initiated the transaction that involved an impersonator of CS Fred Matiang’i and a group of people both in and outside government.
“The group has infiltrated the government and they have their protectors in the system,” a police officer probing the issue said.
Little is known about Jhanda, the flashy 40-year-old man being investigated. His children go to the most expensive international schools and he has been pictured talking to leaders including President Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, ODM leader Raila Odinga and Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
The drama around the multi-billion gold scandal escalated on Monday with House Minority leader John Mbadi claiming Ruto is using the scam to nail Interior CS Fred Matiang’i. He has been given expanded powers rivalling those of the DP.
Mbadi claimed Ruto has already directed two MPs — one from South Rift and the other from Murang’a county — to draft a censure motion to drive the CS out of office.
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations are set to fly out to Dubai on Tuesday night to record a statement from the representative of the United Arab Emirates’ ruler about the Sh400 million gold scam.
The investigators will interrogate Ali Zandi, a representative of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Zandi also represents the Zlivia Company, a gold trading company based in Dubai. Its missing gold is reported to have been seized at JKIA in transit from the DRC to Dubai.
Zandi conducts business on behalf of Sheik Maktoum and has been in Kenya several times to follow up on his cargo, having paid millions of shilling for a first consignment.
Nothing was delivered.
Maktoum complained to President Uhuru Kenyatta that his gold had been seized and detained at JKIA for months on its way to Dubai from DR Congo.
When the President investigated, he learned that there was no such gold and ordered the crackdown on those involved.
The investigators have stepped up their work after Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji ordered Inspector General Hillary Mutyiambai to investigate reports that a group of Kenyans may have conned Al Maktoum out of millions of shillings.
The police have until Wednesday next week to hand over their findings to Haji.
While in Dubai, the investigators will try to obtain all possible evidence that may include audio, documents, pictures and video footage to help convict those involved.