PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Sierra Leonean, Ghanaian arrested in Kenya over fraud
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenyan anti-corruption police have arrested two West Africans over an attempt to defraud prominent Kenyan human rights defender Hassan Omar by forcing him to buy fake foreign currency.
The Sierra Leonean and the Ghanaian were secretly recorded as they negotiated a deal to swindle Omar, a Commissioner with the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) in Nairobi Wednesday.
The duo allegedly needed US$50,000 to purchase equipment for the processing of US$6.5 million in foreign currency before sharing the illegal currency with the partner, who demanded everything in writing before the duo were busted.
The two men, caught on television, claimed that an insider at the UN provided a diplomatic bag with US$6.5 million. However, they claimed they needed some money to buy materials to erase the UN imprint on the money.
Omar, who brought in the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) officers into the picture after making an initial payment of US$2,400, was asked by the duo to make prior commitments on the contract before the money is fully paid.
“We needed some prior formality. Give us US$50,000 to clear the consignment, pay for hotel accommodation and buy the material to clear the UN imprint,” one of the suspected fraudsters was heard saying.
Omar told the group the money could not be obtained due to banking complications and that more time was needed for the full amount to be available.
Police later recovered fake bank notes from the duo, who are to be charged with attempted fraud at a Nairobi Magistrate Court 15 August.
-0- PANA AO/SEG 11Aug2011
The Sierra Leonean and the Ghanaian were secretly recorded as they negotiated a deal to swindle Omar, a Commissioner with the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) in Nairobi Wednesday.
The duo allegedly needed US$50,000 to purchase equipment for the processing of US$6.5 million in foreign currency before sharing the illegal currency with the partner, who demanded everything in writing before the duo were busted.
The two men, caught on television, claimed that an insider at the UN provided a diplomatic bag with US$6.5 million. However, they claimed they needed some money to buy materials to erase the UN imprint on the money.
Omar, who brought in the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) officers into the picture after making an initial payment of US$2,400, was asked by the duo to make prior commitments on the contract before the money is fully paid.
“We needed some prior formality. Give us US$50,000 to clear the consignment, pay for hotel accommodation and buy the material to clear the UN imprint,” one of the suspected fraudsters was heard saying.
Omar told the group the money could not be obtained due to banking complications and that more time was needed for the full amount to be available.
Police later recovered fake bank notes from the duo, who are to be charged with attempted fraud at a Nairobi Magistrate Court 15 August.
-0- PANA AO/SEG 11Aug2011
