Man posing as Spice FM host Eric Latiff arraigned for extortion

Julius Gacheru Wangari alias Chris Gacheru at a Milimani court when he was presented before Milimani Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe on Monday,June 10,2024 on allegations of presenting himself as Eric Latiff a host of the situation room show that`s hosted by the Standard group Spice FM. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

A man posing as Eric Latiff, who is a host at Standard Group’s Spice FM, was on Monday arraigned for impersonation.

Julius Gacheru Wangari alias Chris Gacheru was presented before Milimani Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe who allowed police to make an application to detain him for seven days to conclude their investigations. 

Through corporal Lucas Juma, police stated that Latiff lodged a formal complaint on May 28, 2024 with Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to the effect that someone was using his name to solicit money from unsuspecting guests that are invited to the Situation Room show that he hosts live on Spice FM.

Juma added that Latiff informed the DCI that he was alerted by some of the previous guests who informed him that a person claiming to be him contacted them on WhatsApp using an Airtel subscriber number soliciting for handouts.

“That the guests referred to are prominent personalities from leading political organisations, prominent business persons and senior government officials who were hosted by the complainant between November 2023 and April 2024,” stated Juma in an affidavit.

According to the officer, Latiff shared the mobile numbers of the accused person used for analysing by detectives from Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau domiciled at the DCI headquarters leading to his unmasking and establishing his true identity.

Gacheru was arrested on June 8, 2024 at an apartment within Zambezi area in Kikuyu, Kiambu County and upon a search at the house, two mobile phones were recovered.

“Preliminary investigations established that the two mobile phones have subscriber numbers used in commission of the crimes,” stated Juma.

 Juma requested the accused be detained for seven days because he is able to interfere with ongoing investigations adding that he is a flight risk since his official residence is unknown.

The court will make a ruling on today.