SUSPECT ARRAIGNED OVER USD 600,000 GOLD FRAUD SCHEME

A Kenyan man accused of orchestrating a fake gold deal amounting to USD 600,000 has been arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts, in a case that highlights the growing threat of transnational investment scams.

The suspect, Duncan Okaka Okonji, was arrested on March 24, 2026, and presented in court a day later, where he faced charges of conspiracy to defraud contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code. He denied the charge and was released on a bond of KSh 5 million or an alternative cash bail of KSh 1 million, with two contact persons. The case will be mentioned on April 7, 2026, at the Milimani Law Courts.

According to investigators, the alleged fraud dates back to October 2025, when the complainant, an Australian national, was in Dubai and was introduced to a man identified as Marshall Morrison, who reportedly posed as an American investor.

Morrison is said to have connected the victim to Okonji, who allegedly presented himself as a facilitator of a lucrative gold transaction involving a 590-kilogram consignment.

Investigations reveal that the complainant was taken to Tanzania, where he was shown what were purported to be mining sites, before being brought to Kenya. Authorities say the suspects staged multiple meetings and produced documentation intended to convince the victim that the gold consignment was genuine and ready for shipment to Dubai.

Believing the deal to be legitimate, the complainant reportedly transferred USD 600,000 through Conrad Law Advocates LLC. However, suspicions later arose, prompting him to report the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has since reaffirmed its commitment to cracking down on transnational fraud syndicates, disrupting organised investment scams, and ensuring that proceeds of crime are identified, traced, and recovered in accordance with the law.