Two Kenyan fake gold scammers detained for defrauding Sh9million from Central African Republic national

The Banking Fraud Investigation Unit (BFIU) has sought leave to hold two Kenyan suspects for fourteen days while investigating a case in which a Central African Republic national was defrauded of Sh9million in a fake gold scam.

The unit applied to detain Peter Onyango Odhiambo alias ‘Peterson’ and Doreen Mary Oduor at the Capitol Hill police station, Nairobi as detectives investigate how Godoua Imendji Jesus Perriot, a CAR national lost over US$ 70,000 in the gold heist.

In the miscellaneous criminal application at the Milimani Law Courts, the investigating officer Chrispinus Shibanda said preliminary investigations by the unit have established that the two suspects operate in an organized group whose membership is not limited to Kenya.

“Investigations revealed that there are other individuals involved and have formed a company going by the name Alaska Express Freighters Group which was fraudulently created to scam foreigners into the fake gold scam,” Shibanda stated in his sworn affidavit.

He informed the court that the first respondent, Odhiambo was arrested from his hideout in Kiambaa, Kiambu County while Oduor was nabbed when she went to bail him out.

“They had relocated from their known abode and even withdrew their children from school in order to hide from the authorities,” Shibanda added.

The applicant said he believes the two are deeply involved in the alleged offence and their release before recovery of documentary and electronic evidence, CCTV footage and recording of witnesses statements may greatly jeopardize the intended recovery and investigation.

“The applicant reasonably believes that due to the complexity of the matter, the investigators need more time to track and trace more associates who are in constant communication with the two respondents,” reads the affidavit.

Further information reveals that upon execution of the gold contract, the sellers brought in one Bernard Omamo, a customs officer from the Kenya Revenue Authority claiming that he would facilitate the clearance for the consignment to be delivered in Hong Kong.

“On 18th January, 2025, the complainant booked a business flight to Hong Kong after agreeing with Odhiambo that the consignment would be in the passenger flight he was using,

“He left the hotel for the airport a few minutes before departure time to wait for Odhiambo to deliver the consignment. Unfortunately, this did not happen as agreed.

The plane took off, leaving the complainant with no option but to continue engaging in calls and messages and eventually Odhiambo told him there had been delays and the cargo would be delivered which didn’t happen