Four arrested for defrauding JKUAT lecturer Ksh.567K

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Mombasa on Tuesday arrested four suspects for allegedly defrauding a Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) lecturer Ksh.567,000.

According to the DCI, the suspects obtained the money from the lecturer by pretending that they were in a position to help him ship in a car of his choice.

One of the suspects, who allegedly introduced himself as Martin but his identity card reads James Maina Muhindi, posed as an agent of Beforward Car Importers in Japan.

He reportedly enticed the victim into depositing the said amount into NCBA bank “to avoid delays in the dispatch of the consignment.”

The lecturer however later reported the matter to the DCI when he was asked to make another deposit of Ksh.432,000 duty fees.

“He reported the matter to detectives who commenced investigations, establishing that the first suspect had channeled the money to an account held by Motor City Ways in Mombasa, and was already calling the company faking erroneous transfer,” said the DCI.

The detectives established that Muhindi had requested the company to refund the money in cash through a friend, 32-year-old Bonface Okumu, who was also arrested.

Investigations further led the sleuths to Eric Onyango, 31, and Hesbon Otieno, 40, who are presently being held as well.

“The DCI continues to caution members of the public against engaging in online transactions with companies, agencies and/or individuals they have no credible information about, in a bid to eradicate online fraud and protect the benefits of their toil and sweat.,” added the body.