A Congolese national suspected of involvement in a gold scam worth over Sh30 million has been detained for seven days as police continue their investigations.
Mudera Mega Abedi appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi after police requested more time to complete investigations into the alleged gold scam.
Congolese suspect detained over Sh30M gold scam
Police officer Paul Maina, attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Operations Support Unit, asked the court to allow investigators to detain Abedi for seven days.
Maina told the court that investigators needed additional time to establish the suspect’s identity and complete investigations.
The magistrate granted the request after considering the submissions by the investigating officer.
“Following the submissions by the officer handling this matter, I hereby consider granting the time sought for the purpose of investigations,” Ekhubi ruled.
Suspect allegedly linked to gold fraud
According to Maina, police received a complaint on June 17, 2024, from Florian Vasile Romania.
The complainant alleged that Abedi claimed he could sell him 500 kilograms of gold.
Police launched investigations after receiving the complaint.
Investigators later linked Abedi to the alleged conspiracy to defraud and placed a stop order against him.
Police eventually arrested him at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Suspect allegedly tried to flee Kenya
The court also considered the circumstances surrounding Abedi’s arrest.
Investigators said immigration officers arrested him at the Namanga border while he allegedly attempted to leave Kenya.
Police therefore told the court that the suspect posed a flight risk.
Maina further said Abedi had been using two travel documents bearing different names but the same photograph.
One document identified him as Muderwa Mega Abedi.
The second document, a Congolese temporary travel document, identified him as Banambaya Kapapa Emery.
Police seek to verify suspect’s identity
Investigators told the court that they needed more time to establish Abedi’s true identity.
They also want to verify the authenticity of his travel documents through the Congolese Embassy.
Additionally, police want to obtain his travel history from immigration authorities.
Investigators believe the information will help establish whether the suspect used different identities while conducting his activities in Kenya.
ODPP yet to make decision on charges
Police forwarded the investigation file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on April 4, 2025.
The ODPP required additional time to review the extensive documents and determine whether to approve charges.
Police had previously released Abedi after failing to charge him within the constitutionally required period.
He was then ordered to report to the investigating officer daily and surrender his passport to the police.
Suspect allegedly breached reporting conditions
Investigators said Abedi complied with the reporting requirements until April 12, 2025.
He appeared before the investigating officer without his lawyer and received instructions to return on April 15.
However, police said he failed to report as directed.
Investigators later learned that immigration officers had arrested him at the Namanga border.
Police now suspect that Abedi may have received assistance from accomplices who wanted to help him evade arrest and prosecution.
Court allows seven-day detention
The prosecution asked the court for more time to complete investigations and allow the ODPP to make a decision on the possible charges.
After considering the application, Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi allowed the police to detain Abedi for seven days.
