Nairobi Businessman Arrested for Allegedly Defrauding Foreign Investor of Ksh.7.2 Million in Fake Minerals deal
French National Conned in Nairobi:Promised Coltan Deal Turns Out to be Stones Worth Millions Less
Nairobi detectives apprehended businessman Edwin Ochieng Oduk on Wednesday, accusing him of masterminding an elaborate scam that involved unlawfully acquiring approximately Ksh.7.2 million from a foreign national. The victim, William Tuil, a French national, fell prey to Oduk’s scheme, which revolved around a deceptive minerals transaction.
Tuil was enticed into what seemed like a lucrative business venture focused on exporting Coltan, a valuable mineral, from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Believing he was investing in a promising deal, Tuil found himself at Oduk’s office in Nairobi’s Westlands area. Instead of the anticipated fortune, he was presented with a metallic box filled with stones and shattered tiles.
Upon receiving a complaint from the aggrieved French national, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations took swift action, raiding Oduk’s premises. Inside one of the converted townhouse offices, detectives uncovered 12 metallic boxes, some of which contained stones. This sinister modus operandi involved using these boxes to deceive victims into believing they were handling substantial amounts of cash or valuable gold.
Edwin Oduk, along with a number of his employees, was taken into custody as part of the investigation. William Tuil was brought in to identify the ill-fated consignment he was convinced was his riches. As he stood before the impounded boxes, he vividly recalled the distinct green box that was purportedly his money. To his dismay, when the box was opened, it revealed nothing more than stones and gravel.
The elaborate packaging of these alleged millions took place in Ghana, initially destined for Rwanda under diplomatic pretenses.The victim’s journey continued as he was informed that the consignment faced complications upon landing in Nairobi, leading him to be asked for bribes to release the funds. This is when Edwin Oduk entered the scene, contacting Tuil and demanding hefty sums for various fabricated reasons, including safekeeping, insurance, a private jet, customs, and commission.
Oduk’s arrest sheds light on a complex transnational criminal network, with victims stretching across borders. The con artist is slated to face charges on Thursday, exposing the intricate web of deception that left a French national disillusioned and the authorities determined to bring the culprits to justice.