Sh8bn gold probe hits dead end

Detectives are yet to trace the two-and-half tonnes of gold allegedly smuggled into the country early this year even as it emerged that police have been handling many gold-related fraud cases.

The team of detectives from Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have called in computer experts, documents examiners, mines and geology officials and other government officials to assist in the investigations.

Under probe are eleven companies and nine individuals named in a list handed over to President Kibaki by his DRC counterpart Joseph Kabila recently when he visited the country over the smuggling of the Sh8 billion worth of gold. (READ: Joint team to seek smuggled gold)

Prominent business people

The list contains names of prominent business people, a man identified as a JKIA employee and another identified as a KRA official.

A source privy to the investigations, but who is not authorised to speak to journalists, on Sunday said that despite their efforts, no gold smuggled into Kenya from DRC had been traced.

“No gold has been recovered anywhere. It looks like it either vanished into thin air or never existed at all,” the police source said.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe, who was said to have travelled to Mombasa on official duty, could not be reached on phone, while his deputy Mr Charles Owino, yesterday declined to comment on the investigations.

Meanwhile, police have been receiving many gold-related fraud cases in which foreigners have been defrauded millions of shillings by conmen.

In the latest case, a man of European origin reported to Central Police Station that he had been defrauded of more than Sh80 million by people posing as gold dealers.

The case was later taken over by the Nairobi Provincial Criminal Investigation Officer, Mr Peter Muinde. When contacted on Sunday, the PCIO declined to comment on the case.

The complainant, who is staying in a five-star hotel in the city, has been a frequent visitor to the Nairobi Area provincial police headquarters.