Wednesday, February 26, 2025 – Fugitive businessman Ibrahim Hassen Abdi, who had been on the run for over a year, was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on February 25, 2025, as he arrived from Dubai aboard Emirates flight EK 0719.
The Fraudulent Scheme
Abdi is accused of defrauding businessman Adan Mohamed of $120,000 (Ksh 15.4 million) in a fake meat export deal. He allegedly claimed to have secured a lucrative contract with Atayib Fresh Meat, a Riyadh-based company, to supply 50 metric tonnes of goat meat weekly for a year.
Convinced by the deal, Mohamed handed over the money in December 2023, witnessed by two associates. However, no payments were ever made, and Abdi soon became untraceable.
Investigators believe he fled to Somalia and Ethiopia, evading authorities and ignoring calls from his accuser. His movements across multiple countries over the past six months suggest a deliberate effort to avoid arrest.
Arrest and Legal Interference
Upon landing at JKIA, DCI Parklands officers, acting on a stop order, swiftly took Abdi into custody. However, reports indicate that soon after his arrest, he engaged a senior official from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), who is allegedly interfering with the case to subvert due process.
Despite these developments, Abdi has been formally charged under Section 313 of the Penal Code for obtaining money by false pretenses.
Prosecution’s Next Steps
Prosecutors are pushing for his detention at Parklands Police Station for 10 days, citing his history of evasion as a significant flight risk.
As the legal battle unfolds, focus is now shifting beyond the fraud allegations to whether corrupt elements within the justice system are working behind the scenes to shield Abdi from facing justice.
The case is set for mention in court in the coming weeks.
