A Kenyan man, Willis Onyango Wasonga, has been arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi over an alleged Sh28 million international fake gold scam that targeted an American investor in a botched 495-kilogram gold deal destined for Dubai.
Wasonga, who detectives say also used the alias “Marcus,” was presented in court after investigations linked him to a sophisticated scheme that reportedly defrauded a U.S. national of USD 217,900 (approximately Sh28 million).
The Complaint
The case was reported at Capitol Hill Police Station by Gershonov Oleg on behalf of his American business partner, John Sodipo. According to investigators, Oleg first travelled to Kenya in September 2025 to pursue a gold transaction that ultimately failed to materialize.
During his visit, he allegedly established contact with individuals posing as gold dealers, among them Wasonga, who would later become the main suspect in the probe.
The 495kg Gold Deal
Detectives say negotiations between Sodipo and Wasonga led to an agreement for the purchase and chartering of 495 kilograms of gold to Dubai.
Following the agreement, Sodipo is said to have deposited the agreed chartering fees into what was presented as an escrow account under advocate Michael Otieno Owano of MOAC Advocates. Oleg later travelled back to Kenya to oversee the shipment process.
However, the gold consignment allegedly failed to ship within the agreed timelines. As pressure mounted for delivery, investigators say it became clear that the deal was fictitious.
Alleged Web of Deception
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspects’ modus operandi involved an elaborate network designed to give the transaction a veneer of legitimacy.
Detectives allege that SRK Logistics Limited misrepresented its capacity to supply gold, while fictitious legal representation agreements were generated to portray MOAC Advocate LLP as handling a legitimate commercial transaction.
Further investigations revealed that funds were allegedly moved swiftly between company accounts before being transferred overseas — a pattern investigators say bears the hallmarks of money laundering, including layering and concealment of proceeds of crime.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
With investigations closing in, Wasonga secured anticipatory bail at the High Court before presenting himself at DCI Headquarters on February 13, 2026, for statement recording.
He was later arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court granted him a bond of Sh1 million with two contact persons or, in the alternative, a cash bail of Sh350,000.
Investigations Ongoing
Detectives say investigations remain ongoing as authorities pursue additional suspects believed to be connected to the alleged scam.
The case is scheduled for mention on March 3, 2026, as the prosecution continues to piece together what investigators describe as a calculated and sophisticated international gold fraud scheme.
