Suspects, including Josephine Okongo and Brian Ochieng, denied all charges before Magistrate Alego.
The world of precious metals has always been enticing, yet it often carries a hidden risk—fraud. Recently, a major case in Kenya brought 31 individuals under scrutiny, accused of allegedly scamming two businessmen from Dubai in a fake gold deal that amounted to a whopping USD 54,300.
Among the key suspects, names like Josephine Okongo, Brian Ochieng, Josephine Okong’o, Mercy Atieno, Brenda Nekesa, and Mercy Awuor among others stand out, each denying the accusations against them.
Let’s dive deep into the details surrounding this case and explore how scams like these are impacting both local and international investors.
Appearing before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego for bond ruling, the accused were granted stringent terms in consideration of the seriousness of the offense and the amount involved.
The accused were released on Sh 100,000 Bond or a cash bail of Sh 50,000 each in the first count. In count two, they were released on a bond of Sh 3 million plus 2 Surety of similar amounts or a cash bail of Sh 1.5M plus 2 contact persons.
The suspects, who are connected to the scamming web in Runda, Ridgeways, and Industrial Area parts of Nairobi, were arraigned in court and detained pending a bail ruling.
They are said to have been masquerading as genuine dealers in the precious metal, the suspects had on diverse dates in September 2024 paraded coated off-base metals to hoodwink and lure the two foreigners into a business deal, thereafter holing up with the thousands of dollars.
After making several trips to the country and into the opulent offices in which the scammers operated, the victims grew suspicious of the excuses made on why the 35kg of gold they had bought was not being exported to Dubai as agreed, thereby reporting the suspected fraud at DCI.
Also Read: Investigative Book Exposes Edwin Ochieng Oduk as a Major Gold Fraudster – Stay Alert
Appearing before Magistrate Alego, the Suspects led by Josephine Okong’o, Mercy Atieno, Brenda Nekesa, Mercy Awuor, and Brian Ochieng among others denied all the charges.
The court was informed that they committed the offense on August 24, 2024, and October 19,2024 in Nairobi pretending that they would sell 35kgs of Gold to Integrous Gold and Diamond Trading LLC.
They are said to have scammed businessmen Sonali Purbia Malvinas and Mohamed Adel.
In the second count, the two were charged with obtaining the money under pretenses against the law, and in the last count, they were charged with having papers intended to resemble and pass as currency notes.
They are accused that on November 5, 2024, at House Number 581, Glory Valley within Runda Estate, they had in their possession papers resembling US 2,500 in twenty-five, one hundred denominations bearing the same serial number as the originals but knowing they were fake.
In the last count, they were released on Sh 100,000 bond or a cash bail of Sh 50,000
The pretrial will be on 27/11/2024.
