Land broker arrested after threatening to kill Chinese investor over Sh4.7M deal in city

A land dealer has been arrested after he threatened to kill a Chinese businessman over Sh4.7 million alleged debt in the city centre.

Mr Johnson Omwando Juma is also accused of demanding the money by menaces.

The Chinese identified as John Zeyun Yang who is involved in real estate business reported the matter to the Central Police station before Omwando was tracked and arrested.

Police said they had obtained evidence to show Omwando sent life threatening messages to Yang. He also allegedly called him through his mobile phone.

The two had been involved in a land transaction in Kilimani area in which Yang says he paid all the money. Police say such cases of demanding money by menace are on the rise. He was tracked and arrested at a city hotel by detectives who had been investigating the complaint.

According to one of the messages, Omwando threatened to engage "underground parties" to deal with the Chinese businessman if he did not pay his money.

“I will not have to engage the underworld to get my payments,” one of the messages he sent to the complainant.

Central head of investigations Seroney Kiberenge said Omwando was working alone in his threats to the investor.

“He will face the charges as we continue to investigate if there are other crimes he committed in this process,” said Kiberenge.

Kiberenge said they had established the accused had been paid all his money and all he was engaging in was threats to get more from the Chinese investor.

Omwando later appeared in court yesterday and was charged with demanding money by menace, a charge he denied. He was freed on a Sh200,000 cash bail or Sh500,000 bond with similar surety.

Kiberenge said they would charge the man with more charges after their investigations are complete.