The man at the centre of Sh2 billion fake
money syndicate that was smashed at Barclays Bank in Nairobi once
jostled for the control of Gor Mahia FC.
money syndicate that was smashed at Barclays Bank in Nairobi once
jostled for the control of Gor Mahia FC.
Mr
Eric Adede, a Nairobi-based businessman-cum-politician, is among six
suspects arrested on Tuesday by the Flying Squad officers at Barclays
Bank’s Queensway branch.
Eric Adede, a Nairobi-based businessman-cum-politician, is among six
suspects arrested on Tuesday by the Flying Squad officers at Barclays
Bank’s Queensway branch.
MP CANDIDATE
The fake notes in 100-US-dollar denominations were found hidden in one of the bank’s safe boxes.
Mr Adede unsuccessfully vied for Gor Mahia chairmanship in 2014.
He lost the election after garnering 445 votes behind the current club’s chairman Ambrose Rachier, who got 808 votes.
The man who claimed to own the
fake-dollar-haul also tried his luck in the race for Homa Bay Town
parliamentary seat in the last general election but lost to Mr Peter
Kaluma.
fake-dollar-haul also tried his luck in the race for Homa Bay Town
parliamentary seat in the last general election but lost to Mr Peter
Kaluma.
According
to the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti, Adede is
believed to be the owner of the safe deposit box in which the fake
currency was stashed.
to the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti, Adede is
believed to be the owner of the safe deposit box in which the fake
currency was stashed.
However, other police sources told the Nation that Mr Adede could have been acting on behalf of some powerful individuals in government.
Other
suspects arrested in the swoop by Flying Squad and detectives from DCI
are Mr Ahmed Shah, Mr Boaz Ochich, Mr Charles Manzi both said to be
bank’s officials, and Ms Elizabeth Muthoni and Ms Irene Wairimu Kimani.
suspects arrested in the swoop by Flying Squad and detectives from DCI
are Mr Ahmed Shah, Mr Boaz Ochich, Mr Charles Manzi both said to be
bank’s officials, and Ms Elizabeth Muthoni and Ms Irene Wairimu Kimani.
The
DCI describes Mr Shah as a “fake investor” whom Mr Adede was using to
dupe businesspeople into parting with their hard-earned money.
DCI describes Mr Shah as a “fake investor” whom Mr Adede was using to
dupe businesspeople into parting with their hard-earned money.
DCI describes Mr Shah as a ‘fake investor’ whom Mr Adede was using to
dupe businesspeople into parting with their hard-earned money. PHOTO |
COURTESY | TWITTER
Mr Ochich and Mr Manzi are said to be Barclays Bank officials.
Little is known about the two female suspects, Ms Muthoni and Ms Kariuki.
In
a statement, the bank on Tuesday said Mr Adede had concealed fake
currency in his personal safe deposit box against bank rules, including
restrictions of items that can be held in the box.
a statement, the bank on Tuesday said Mr Adede had concealed fake
currency in his personal safe deposit box against bank rules, including
restrictions of items that can be held in the box.
“According
to the police, the individual in question had concealed the counterfeit
banknotes in his personal safe deposit box. This is also against the
bank’s rules and regulations,” the bank said.
to the police, the individual in question had concealed the counterfeit
banknotes in his personal safe deposit box. This is also against the
bank’s rules and regulations,” the bank said.
CON GAME
“The
contents of personal safe deposit boxes are not part of the bank’s
deposits and are only known to the client; however, these may not
include items prohibited in terms of the law.”
contents of personal safe deposit boxes are not part of the bank’s
deposits and are only known to the client; however, these may not
include items prohibited in terms of the law.”
The bank said it would cooperate with police to ensure the suspect is brought to justice.
“Barclays
Bank of Kenya has already notified its primary regulator, the Central
Bank of Kenya, and assured it that it will continue to provide active
assistance to the police until the investigation has been completed.”
Bank of Kenya has already notified its primary regulator, the Central
Bank of Kenya, and assured it that it will continue to provide active
assistance to the police until the investigation has been completed.”
Safe
deposit boxes are offered to clients for the storage of vital documents
such as title deeds, logbooks, marriage certificates, insurance
policies, jewellery, foreign currency, educational certificates among
others.
deposit boxes are offered to clients for the storage of vital documents
such as title deeds, logbooks, marriage certificates, insurance
policies, jewellery, foreign currency, educational certificates among
others.
Detectives say Mr Adede had been spotted a number of times displaying the contents of the box to strangers.
Police sources said the owners were using the money to con people.
The latest bust adds to growing list of fake cash hauls that have been discovered in the capital and neighbouring towns.
Last
month, police from the Special Crimes Prevention Unit, nabbed fake
foreign cash amounting to Sh32 billion in a residential house in Ruiru
town.
month, police from the Special Crimes Prevention Unit, nabbed fake
foreign cash amounting to Sh32 billion in a residential house in Ruiru
town.
The large sums of fake foreign
currency seized by the police in recent months have raised concerns on
whether Nairobi could be turning into a base for transnational fake cash
cartels.
currency seized by the police in recent months have raised concerns on
whether Nairobi could be turning into a base for transnational fake cash
cartels.