The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched investigations into a fraud involving millions of shillings by suspects posing as United Nations (UN) staff.
The gang, including a man and a woman, who the DCI on Wednesday, November 11, listed as wanted persons, is also being sought for bank fraud offences.
The DCI placed a notice in newspapers and social media platforms indicating that Gerald Gatheru Mwai and Gladys Mwara Kamau, both holders of national ID card number 23463386 and 27293605 respectively, are wanted pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by the Milimani Court on October 16.
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“Any person with information that will lead to the arrest of the two named suspects are asked to contact DCI Headquarters-ECCU section, the nearest police station, call or SMS 0773004776,” the DCI wrote.
The two are said to have been duping unsuspecting businessmen of non-existing tenders at the UN.
The victims were issued with Local Purchase Orders (LPO) after parting with some money.
The victims would be directed on where to purchase the tendered goods, especially drugs and rice, but told to only pay and wait for them to be delivered.
Some of the victims told detectives that since access to the UN compound was restricted, they were convinced to surrender the goods to a team of ‘UN staff.'
The fraudsters would then disappear with the goods.
The DCI, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has written to the UN to establish the authenticity of the LPOs and stamps used on the invoices and delivery notes.
The suspects are also said to have been behind several bank frauds. The cases are currently being investigated by the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit.
According to the DCI, there has been a surge in such fraud in the last few months. Some of the suspects are colluding with bank employees.
On Wednesday, two National Bank of Kenya employees were arraigned before Kiambu court for withdrawing money from a bank account of a deceased man without the knowledge and consent of his family.
Edward Omariba and Stanley Kanyugi are said to have withdrawn the money on November 3, from the account of Duncan Wathugi at an unknown location alongside other suspects who are yet to be arrested.
A bank staff noticed the illegal transaction and notified the cybercrime and banking fraud detectives.
In another case two weeks ago, two Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) students, Anthony Mwangi and Ann Wambui, were arrested for conspiring to steal Sh190 million from the NCBA bank through hacking.
