Two Arrested for Multi-Million Shilling Scam Targeting Swiss National
Detectives from the DCI Operations Support Unit have arrested Julius Kirimi Muthuri and German national Richard Olaf Heinig at the Red Ruby Hotel on Ojijo Road in Parklands.
The pair is suspected of defrauding a Swiss national of over Ksh 52 million in a complex scam that spanned multiple countries.
The victim, lured by a story of hidden wealth from his father’s past transactions in Ghana, was deceived by a Ghanaian intermediary, Mamee Efua Esong. Esong claimed to be familiar with the victim’s father’s dealings and informed him that the proceeds of a property sale were worth USD 62.8 million, which required a special purpose company for transfer.
The Swiss national was convinced to register a company to facilitate the transfer, but he was tricked into paying substantial amounts in taxes and facilitation fees across Ghana, Dubai, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. In Kenya, he encountered Heinig and Muthuri, who falsely represented Lawsam Security Company. They purportedly managed the transport and storage of the alleged cargo at Nairobi airport, demanding an additional USD 400,000 for facilitation.
Upon realizing the fraud, the victim reported the scam to the Kenyan Mission in Switzerland. The complaint was referred to the DCI, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has issued a stern warning to fraudsters, emphasizing that such deceitful practices will not go unchecked.
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