Samuel Ouma
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested two suspects, Julius Kirimi Muthuri, a Kenyan, and Richard Olaf Heinig, a German citizen, linked to a scam that defrauded a Swiss national of Ksh52 million (approximately $403,000).
The duo was apprehended in a Nairobi hotel while preparing to further exploit the victim. The Swiss national had been misled for years, believing he was entitled to a large inheritance from his father, who purportedly sold property in Ghana two decades ago, leaving the proceeds with a trustee.
In 2020, the victim was introduced to Mamee Efua Esong, a Ghanaian woman who claimed to be acquainted with his father’s business dealings. She informed him that USD 62.8 million was available for transfer to his home country, but he needed to establish a specific purpose company to access the funds.
The scam spanned multiple countries, including Ghana, Dubai, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, with the victim making numerous payments for taxes and facilitation fees.
In Kenya, the Swiss national met Heinig, who introduced him to Muthuri, claiming to be the owner of Lawsam Security Company, allegedly hired to transport and store “cargo” at Nairobi’s airport. The scammers later denied the victim access to the containers, demanding an additional USD 400,000 in facilitation fees.
After realizing he had been conned, the victim filed a complaint with the Kenyan Mission in Switzerland, which was forwarded to the DCI, prompting an investigation that led to the suspects’ arrest.
The DCI has issued a stern warning to those engaged in fraudulent activities, asserting that they will face consequences. “The Directorate of Criminal Investigations sends a strong warning to anyone whose mission is to reap where they have not sown; their days are numbered,” the statement read.