Controversial gold dealer Jared Kiasa Otieno will been detained for seven days at Kileleshwa Police Station to allow police to complete investigations into a recent gold scam.
Senior Resident Magistrate Paul Mayova ruled that seven days were sufficient for police to complete investigations.
According to the police affidavit, investigations into a case of obtaining money by false pretences is ongoing.
The court heard that between 8th and 25th February 2019 a foreigner by the name Sounthorn Chanthavong from LAO, who deals in buying and selling of gold is alleged to have been lured into a house No.12 at Kaputei Gardens in Nairobi where he lost three Million dollars after being dubbed that the items he bought were genuine gold.
Two weeks ago, police raided the said house allegedly owned by Otieno and arrested 15 people in connection with the fraud. They were produced before a Nairobi Court and orders to detain them granted.
Links
According to the police, Otieno is linked to many more fraudulent activities involving fake gold adding that there are many more complainants who have come up with similar allegations.
The investigations are alleged to be complex, diverse and are looking at transnational organized crime where some of his accomplices could be in the neighbouring countries and the offences committed cuts across international borders.
However, through his three lawyers, led by Stanley Kangahi the 14 days are in excess since no holding charge has been preferred against him.
“Investigations is a continuous processes and even if they were granted 14 days I doubt if the investigations would stop,” Kangahi said.
He further submitted that the affidavit does not state any other complainants as alleged by the prosecution.
“Fourteen days are in excess as there is no exercise that the police intend to require the presence of the respondents,” the lawyer said.
The court further heard Otieno was not arrested as alleged by the prosecution as he presented himself at DCI HQ after the explosion on social media.
He prayed that he be granted bond or cash bail since he is not at flight risk and is ready to abide by any bail terms and cooperate with investigators.
Kangahi told the court that the investigating officers know his abode since they did a sweep at his house.
It is alleged that Otieno has been identified from a CCTV footage confiscated from a house in Kileleshwa where the other 15 suspects were arrested, as the owner of the house.
One of the 15 suspects identified as Philip Nahashon Naulu but found to be Philip Nahashon Aroko said said to be Otieno’s right hand man is implicated in another gold scum case currently ongoing before a Nairobi court and was charged with the theft of Sh 80 million from Cooperative Bank in 2010.
The matter will be mentioned on 24th May.
