Nigerian in Sh17.6m gold scam case released on bail

A Nigerian, suspected to have defrauded an American foreigner in a fake gold scam, was Thursday released on Sh100,000 cash bail pending investigations.

The suspect Yusuf Daniel Masara alias Dr. Ibrahim Sacko is said to have obtained Sh 17.6 million on diverse dates between October 7,2020 and January 1,2021 from Ahmed an american national Elrais Ahmed Mohamed purporting to assist buy him buy 50 kilograms of gold.

Milimani Law Courts Senior Resident Magistrate Jane Kamau ordered Masara
to be released on bail after she declined to allow police seven days to continue detaining the suspect for seven days.

“I have considered the submissions by the state and the suspect and find that the role of the suspect in the investigations is minimal and l therefore decline to allow police request application and order the suspect be released on Sh 100,000 with one contact person on condition he reports on a daily basis at DCIO Kilimani police station pending the probe,” ruled Kamau.

The court also ordered the suspect’s travelling documents to be held by the investigating officer until all investigations in the matter are complete.

“That Masara was arrested following a report made vide Kilimani police station Occurrence Book Number 59 a report made vide Kilimani police station Occurrence Book Number 59/26/01/2021 that the suspect who is a Nigerian national with pothers not before court fraudulently obtained a total of Sh 17.6 million from one Elrais Ahmed Mohamed a n american national purpoting to assist him venture into business of buying and selling gold minerals across international borders,” says Constable Stephen Kibei in his affidavit filed in court.

Masara is said to have duped the complainant into transferring the Sh 17.6 million from to his bank account to another bank account provided.

“That Masara herein after receiving the funds failed to deliver the consignment gold as agreed and cut communication with the complainant something that made him to be suspicious about the business deal and reported the police to seeking for a legal assistance,”said Kibei.

The court heard that police are investigating suspect over offence of obtaining money by false pretenses, uttering money, other offences

The court heard that following the complainant at Kilimani police station investigations commenced that led to the arrest of the suspect while at Favour apartment within South B Nairobi.

Kibei also informed that during the time of arrest the suspect on February 3,2021 failed to open door for them despite identifying themselves as police officers. The suspect was arrested two hours later following the intervention of the apartment management.

He added that at during the time of arrest, two laptops, three mobile phones and assorted sim cards and assorted documents were recovered from the suspects house.

Police says that preliminary investigation have reveals that they recovered laptops mobile phones are suspected to be used to commit crime of obtaining money through fraudulent means and online fraud.

Upon arrest the police was unable to satisfactory give account of the works and his source of income in the country.

The police said that the suspect is a flight risk since he does not have a fixed point of a bode.

Kibei further told court a motor vehicle registration number KCJ 609 Y Mitsubshi Colt was recovered in the suspect possession,and has failed to account for ownership of the same and currently it is being treated as a proceed pf crime.

The investigating officer had sought for seven days to enable him investigation matter saying that they need to seek to liase with Interpol police and other government agencies to a certain whether he is a wanted person.

” That we require time to enable the investigating officers record statements from the suspect, to do profiling on the Masara, liase with immigration department to ascertain his immigration status, verify visas endorse on the passport and his mission in the country,” said Kibei.

Kibei also informed the court they want to obtain information from the service providers and to forward the said laptops, Mobile phones and simcards to Cyber crime unit at the DCI headquarters for forensic analysis.

Police also is seeking to obtain previous criminal records of the suspects, arrest his accomplices who are at large, ascertain ownership of the motor vehicle at National Transport and Safety Authority.