Two men are currently detained by police after being apprehended for allegedly pretending to be officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and scamming a resident out of more than Ksh.200,000.
The suspects, identified as Nicholas Okoth Owino and David Otieno Odhiambo, reportedly posed as DCI detectives to deceive the victim, assuring them they could hasten a pending investigation in return for payment.
Authorities report that the suspects’ fabricated identities allowed them to establish trust with the victim, ultimately enabling them to extort substantial funds under false pretenses.
The suspects allegedly approached the victim with promises of fast-tracking the investigation, creating a believable scenario that led to a significant financial loss for the victim.
According to a statement from the DCI, Owino and Odhiambo unlawfully collected over Ksh.200,000, exploiting the victim’s need for a swift resolution.
“Reports indicate that Nicholas Okoth Owino and David Otieno Odhiambo unlawfully extorted over Ksh.200,000 from a citizen by falsely presenting themselves as DCI officers.
They claimed they could expedite an ongoing investigation, luring the victim into their scam,” the DCI remarked. The incident underscores a broader issue of criminal impersonation and the ways it is used to exploit unsuspecting individuals.
Their arrest, which was carried out by detectives from the DCI’s Nairobi Regional Headquarters, came after a detailed investigation into the scheme.
Now, authorities are broadening the probe to determine if Owino and Odhiambo may have conducted similar fraudulent activities with other citizens.
Investigators are urging anyone who might have encountered these suspects under suspicious circumstances to come forward, as they work to piece together a comprehensive understanding of the pair’s activities.
