A 36-year-old Cameroonian national, is in police custody for obtaining money falsely from an Australian investor based in the country.
Timson Tiekam Babila alias Jeremy, was arrested by detectives attached to Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Economic and Commercial Crimes (ECCU) detectives on Wednesday, at a hotel in Kilimani area following a tip off from the complainant.
The suspect believed to be a ‘wash wash’ specialist was arrested together with two other accomplices, Ernest Abeng Ahuo and Ayong Ronald Aku, all Cameroonian citizens.
According to preliminary investigations, Babila entices his clients by duping them that they will make quick cash after cleaning their fake dollars and turning the dollars into real money.
“In order to make this happen, the suspect first asks his victims for genuine money for the purchase of chemicals and other materials used to clean the fake notes, usually locked steel boxes,” read DCI report.
“An Australian investor with business interests in Kenya and Dubai had advanced Sh800,000, to the scoundrels, before he discovered that he had been ‘washed’.”
In a bid to recover his money, the suspect made a report at the ECCU offices in DCI’s Headquarters and detectives immediately went for the suspects.
A trap was laid at a local establishment and the suspect together with his abettors, fell for it hoping to make a killing of a lifetime.
However, detectives who had taken vantage positions in the hotel pounced on the three and arrested them as they made their way in.
A heavy, black, steel box was recovered from the suspects.
“The suspect and his accomplices live in Ruaka, Kiambu county, that has become synonymous with ‘Wash Wash’ suspects, who live fake lives stealing from hardworking businessmen,” stated DCI.
The trio are currently awaiting processing by the detectives to answer to their crimes.
The DCI urging any other person who might have fallen victim to the fraudster’s tricks, to report to the officer in charge of the ECCU at the DCI Headquarters.