In a dramatic turn of events, 38-year-old Harriet Mary Wabwire has been arrested for allegedly swindling a Chinese national out of Ksh. 13,049,200 ($101,000) in a fraudulent aluminium trade scheme.
ELABORATE SCAM UNCOVERED
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reports that Wabwire posed as the Director of OTD Group Limited, convincing her victim she could supply aluminium alloys in bulk. To cement her deception, Wabwire presented forged documents, including a fraudulent Bill of Lading (BOL) and a counterfeit Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) certificate of conformity.
“These fake documents falsely claimed that a shipment of 23,890 kilograms of aluminium alloys had been packed and was ready for transport from the port of Mombasa to Ningbo, China,” the DCI revealed in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
THE FRAUDULENT TRANSACTION
The unsuspecting Chinese national wired the hefty sum to Wabwire’s bank account after receiving the forged documents. However, once the funds were transferred, Wabwire disappeared, switching off her phone and leaving her victim unable to reach her.
INTENSE INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ARREST
The victim reported the fraud, prompting an immediate investigation by the DCI. Following a detailed probe, officers tracked down Wabwire to a hideout in Tassia, Embakasi East Sub-County, Nairobi, where she was apprehended.
LEGAL ACTION PENDING
Wabwire remains in custody as she awaits arraignment. Authorities are pursuing further leads to uncover any additional accomplices or related schemes.
A STARK WARNING TO FRAUDSTERS
The DCI’s swift action serves as a stark reminder that fraudulent activities will not go unchecked. Cases like this highlight the need for vigilance in trade deals, especially those involving large sums and international transactions.
