DCI cracks down on fake gold business, emphasizes on vetting

DCI boss George Kinoti. [File, Standard]

Foreign businessmen trading in gold will have to be subjected to compulsory scrutiny by Government agency before being allowed to continue with their activities, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has said.

In its statement posted on its twitter handle, the DCI said that the country has experienced rampant cases where con artists defraud unsuspecting individuals by selling them fake gold.

It noted: “DCI attention has been drawn to an upsurge in criminal cases involving the procurement & sale of gold the country. The Gold Scam has now reached alarming levels as unsuspecting foreign nationals are being swindled large amounts of money by the fraudsters.”

The detectives body has shown its intention to involve the high commissions to join the fight against the vice by urging them to advise their nationals engaged in trade to follow procedures. The DCI told the traders to be wary of marauding fake gold syndicate operating in the country.

“We urge the Embassies (High Commissions) to advise their nationals coming in for business to be apprised of con business of gold going on in the country and first contact the Department of Mines and Geology for procedure that pertains to buying &selling of Gold & other Precious metals,” it states.

It has extended similar caution to Kenyans trading in the commodity to conduct proper due diligence and ascertain that the people they are dealing with are not fraudsters.

This comes after case involving sale of fake gold failed to kick off yesterday after a lawyer who was lined up to testify against the suspects did not appear in court.

Thomas Otieno, was to give a witness testimony against Samir Munyinyi, who is accused of defrauding Mertroglu Muhammet of Sh25 million, by pretending to be selling them 360Kg of gold.

In another case, Mr Munyinyi is also accused alongside a Congolese Eric Amisi Bin Ramazani of defrauding Vladimir Borisenko of Sh21 million; after they pretended to be selling the Borisenko 100Kg of gold.