Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives from the Land Fraud Investigations Unit (LFIU) at DCI headquarters have apprehended a suspect involved in a high-value land fraud case.
The suspect allegedly forged a deed of gift and a transfer of land document to unlawfully acquire a parcel of land in the upscale area of Karen, valued at Sh200 million.
The case came to light when a complainant reported that she had purchased the land from the rightful owner, who had since passed away. This deceased owner had been bequeathed the said land by her late mother.
Following the complaint, detectives swiftly launched an investigation, which revealed that the suspect, identified as Benick Otieno Okombo, had crafted false documents purporting ownership of the land to be a gift from the deceased owner.
The meticulous inquiry collected the necessary evidence, which was then submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution. After an independent review, the ODPP supported the investigators’ findings and approved charges of forgery and the utterance of false documents against the suspect.
A manhunt ensued, leading to Okombo’s arrest at Bruce House, Nairobi, thanks to forensic leads. He is now in custody, undergoing processing in anticipation of his arraignment.
This arrest not only highlights the ongoing efforts in the fight against land fraud but also serves as a warning to those who might attempt similar deceitful acts.
