Fake gold suspect Jared Otieno to spend seven days in detention

Businessman Jared Kiasa Otieno has been remanded for seven
days to allow detectives from the DCI complete investigations related to
alleged fraud and obtaining money by false pretenses.



The prosecution had applied for 14 days, but trial Magistrate Paul Mayova reduced it to half after hearing all parties.



The court heard that between February 8-25, 2019 a foreigner by the
name of Sounthorn Chanthvong from Lao who deals with buying and selling
gold is said to have been lured into a house located at Kaputei Gardens
where he lost USD3,000,000 equivalent to Sh300 million.



The prosecution said that the foreigner was duped that the items he bought were genuine gold.



“On the 13 May 2019 through a tip off to the office of the DCI,
officers raided the said house where they arrested 15 people who are
believed to be Otieno’s employees,” the court heard.



The prosecution further said that during the raid several exhibits
were recovered and are with investigating officers awaiting analysis,
saying that the detectives needs time to peruse them.



The trial Magistrate was told that preliminary investigations reveal
that Otieno is involved in the scam, despite the fact that he presented
himself to the DCI upon learning through social media that police were
looking for him.



The prosecution said that an affidavit sworn by Inspector Felix
Karisa Banzi reveals that the respondent is linked to many fraudulent
activities relating to fake gold.



However, in reply to the application seeking detention of the subject
his lawyer Stanley Kangai, said that amount was purely genuine
transaction which all parties are in agreement.



He said his client is not linked to 15 suspects arrested on May 13,
2019 and have since appeared in court and are in police custody for
investigation.



The lawyer submitted that the application before court has a holding charge and therefore its unconstitutional.



He pleaded with the court to release him on bond given that he
presented himself to DCI without summons contrary to was carried on
social media.



The case will be mentioned on May 24.