Suspect in 400kg gold scam dies

By Cyrus Ombati

NAIROBI, KENYA: One of the three suspects facing charges of fraud in connection with the alleged 400 kilogrammes of gold valued at Sh 115.8 million has died in hospital.

Jean Claude Mundeke alias General died at the weekend at the Kijabe Mission Hospital where he had been admitted with cancer complication.

A family spokesman and police officer said General had been unwell for the past five months and had sought to travel out of the country for medical attention. The body was later moved to Nairobi.

General, Ruphin Kazadi and Jean Claude Kanza were last May charged with obtaining money under false pretences and conspiracy to defraud. They were charged that on different dates between July 1, 2010 and February 2011, they conspired to defraud Ulrich Annas Ngoyi Bongo of the cash.

They pretended they were in a position to sell 400 kilogrammes of gold nuggets to Ngoyi, valued at Sh115,811,976. The three were later released on a cash bail of Sh2 million with a Kenyan surety.