Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang is facing allegations of involvement in a gold scam following the arrest of three suspects connected to the case.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed that the suspects were apprehended in the upscale Runda estate of Nairobi on a Saturday afternoon.
The suspects have been identified as Fauzia Wanjiru alias Issa, Shallo Fatma alias Tett, and Jackson Ochieng. The arrest was made as part of an intelligence-led operation carried out by the DCI.
The DCI has received information indicating that the arrested suspects have ties to Senator Allan Chesang.
Their apprehension was prompted by a complaint filed by a South African national named Ralph Manyaka, who had been targeted for a significant financial fraud by these individuals.
The suspects had arranged for Manyaka to meet them in Kilimani before taking him to Runda to finalize their fraudulent deal. Unbeknownst to the scammers, detectives were lying in wait near Momesa Vale, where the arrests took place.
According to previous reports, Manyaka had purportedly imported 30 kilograms of gold from Sierra Leone to Dubai via Kenya.
He became aware that his consignment had allegedly been confiscated in Nairobi, leading him to travel to Kenya. There, he encountered a person who claimed to be a customs official named George Otieno.
Otieno informed Manyaka that his shipment could only be released after settling alleged customs discrepancies, which required a payment of Sh5.3 million ($36,000).
During the investigation, Manyaka discovered that the consignments in the house contained fake gold. He hoped that the investigation would help him recover his genuine goods.
The police operation also led to the discovery of counterfeit US dollars, a gold induction melting machine, an export permit for minerals, and samples of minerals bearing the names TENG GERM LTD, along with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stickers.
The arrested suspects are currently in custody at Kilimani police station, awaiting their arraignment. The investigation into the gold scam and its alleged connections to Senator Allan Chesang is ongoing.