Detectives in Nairobi have arrested a 38-year-old woman accused of orchestrating a fraudulent deal that allegedly left a Chinese investor more than Ksh 13 million out of pocket.
The suspect, identified as Harriet Mary Wabwire, was arrested at a house in Tassia following weeks of investigations by officers from Kamukunji Police Station.Her arrest came after investigators reportedly traced her movements following the alleged disappearance of the money.
Police believe she cut communication with the investor shortly after receiving the funds, prompting authorities to launch investigations.
According to the allegations, Wabwire presented herself as a senior official of OTD Group Limited and claimed she could facilitate the supply of nearly 24 tonnes of aluminium alloys for export to China.
Investigators allege that she used forged documents to make the proposed transaction appear legitimate.
Among the documents reportedly presented to the investor were a fake bill of lading and a counterfeit certificate of conformity purportedly issued by the Kenya Bureau of Standards.
The documents allegedly suggested that the aluminium consignment had already been loaded at the Port of Mombasa and was ready for shipment to Ningbo, China.Convinced that the transaction was genuine, the investor reportedly transferred more than 101,000 US dollars to Wabwire. The amount was equivalent to more than Ksh 13 million.
The situation reportedly raised suspicion when the suspect became unreachable after receiving the money.
The investor subsequently reported the matter to the authorities, triggering a detailed investigation.
Detectives used intelligence gathering and forensic analysis to trace the suspect before locating her at her residence in Tassia.
She was arrested without incident and remained in police custody as preparations for her court appearance continued.
Investigators are now pursuing additional leads to determine whether other individuals were involved in the alleged fraud.
They are also examining whether Wabwire could be linked to other similar cases.
The arrest is being viewed as an important development in efforts to tackle sophisticated financial crimes targeting both local and international investors.
Authorities have urged investors to verify company details, business documents and transaction records before committing large sums of money, particularly in cross-border deals.