Man held over alleged Sh12million Muthaiga land fraud probe
Detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Land Fraud Investigation Unit (LFIU) are holding a man implicated in an alleged scheme to fraudulently acquire a one-acre parcel of prime land in Muthaiga, Nairobi, valued at about Sh12million.
Robinson Mbatha Wambua was arrested in an intelligence-led operation at Jacaranda Hotel in Westlands after detectives linked him to the alleged fraudulent acquisition of the property along Mua Park Road.
“Investigations established that the suspect, through his company, Structure Lite Ltd, allegedly procured and uttered a fraudulent certificate of title relating to the parcel of land,” the DCI said.
The arrest followed an investigation that began at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Starehe offices after a complaint was lodged over suspected irregular dealings involving the land.
The case was later transferred to the DCI Headquarters Land Fraud Investigations Unit (LFIU), which took over the probe and examined the documents allegedly used in the attempted acquisition of the property.
According to the DCI, investigators established that Wambua, acting through his company, Structure Lite Ltd, allegedly procured and uttered a fraudulent Certificate of Title relating to the one-acre parcel.
The alleged use of the title document is at the heart of the case, with investigators seeking to establish how the suspect allegedly attempted to use the document to create or support a claim over the valuable property.
After completing the investigation, detectives forwarded the file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review.
The ODPP determined that a prima facie case had been established and approved criminal charges against Wambua.
He is expected to face charges of making a false document, obtaining registration by false pretences, uttering a false document and giving false information to a person employed in the public service.
The charges point to an alleged scheme involving both the creation and use of fraudulent documentation in an attempt to influence the registration or ownership records of the property.
Wambua is currently being processed ahead of his arraignment, where the prosecution will be required to present evidence linking him to the alleged fraudulent documents and the attempted acquisition of the land.
The case highlights the vulnerability of high-value property transactions to fraudulent documentation and attempts to manipulate land registration processes.
The DCI said its investigation was aimed at protecting property rights and ensuring that individuals involved in fraudulent land transactions are brought to justice.
He is awaiting arraignment tomorrow.
