Fake gold and cyber crime suspects detained for a week

Some of the suspects accused of trading in fake gold at the Milimani Law Courts. [Beverlyne Musili, Standard]

The 15 people arrested in connection with fake gold bars in Nairobi on Monday have been detained for a week to allow police complete investigations.

Police had sought permission to detain the suspects for 14 days, but the magistrate, Edna Mayova, granted them only seven days.

In their affidavit, the investigators told court they needed time to have the metal bars recovered from the suspects' office examined.

They also wanted time to retrieve and analyse data from the suspects' mobile phones and computers.

The suspects were arrested at House No. 12 at Kaputei Gardens within Kileleshwa following a tip off.

Mobile phones

Upon searching the office, police recovered 23 mobile phones, 28 steel metal boxes ten of which were packed and sealed.

The authorities also recovered several sledge hammer heads, seven desk top computers, two laptops and gold coated iron bars.

Some of the suspects, who are foreigners, are said to have failed to produce any identification documents to help verify whether they are in Kenya legally.

According to the investigators, the 15 could not explain what they were doing at the said office.

Eight motor vehicles were also recovered from the compound during the operation. Their registrations are yet to be established.

Police also claimed intelligent reports had indicated the suspects have been engaging in cyber-related crimes within and outside the country.

However, defence lawyers objected to their detention, saying their clients' documents were in order, and the time sought by the police was unnecessary. The defence said two days would have been sufficient.