Some 11 out of 13 suspects in Sh1b gold scam released without charges

A section of the thirteen suspects accused Sh1billion fake gold deal have been released. [File, Standard]

A section of the thirteen suspects accused Sh1billion fake gold deal have been released, without taking a plea.

A police officer was among the 11 accused and was released on a cash bail of Sh100 000. The others parted with Sh20,000.

The other two, are foreigners. Milimani magistrate Gilbert Shikwe ordered that they be detained for two more days pending the completion of investigations.

The investigators had sought to detain the suspects for 21 days, as they completed their investigations before charging them officially.

The suspects are under investigation for allegedly conspiring to defraud a Tunisian national at Garden City estate.

In his affidavit, inspector Nicholas Njoroge of DCI headquarters had sought to have the suspects held at Kilimani Police Station for another three weeks as police complete their investigations.

The suspects present in court included a Cameroonian Nelson Fru Che, Liberian Ronald Johnson from Liberia, Constable Festo Akula Wamwayi, David Walumoli Misiko, Lenace Wakachuka, Rahma Abdi Hassan, Joseph Gikonyo, Stephen Robert Andere, Alice Kavata, Flevian Omwoyo, Ian Wekesa Milongo, Duncan Muchai Ndichu and Nabel Suleiman.

"The suspects are being investigated for conspiracy to commit a felony, being in possession of a firearm and ammunition without a license, and being in possession of forged bank notes," stated Njoroge in his affidavit.

Two other suspects according to police escaped the police dragnet and police are still looking for them.