ODM Politician Steve Mbogo Accused of Swindling Sh102 Million from a Dubai-Based Businessman in Gold Sale Scam

Flamboyant businessman Steve Mbogo has been accused of defrauding USD1,000,000 (Sh102.5 million) from a Dubai-based businessman in an alleged gold sale scam.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) politician, alongside two other suspects were on Tuesday arraigned in court on accusations of fraudulently acquiring the cash from Sayeed Mohammed Altaf, a United Arab Emirates citizen.

Mbogo, alongside Rashid Ishmael Patel and James Kinyanjui were arraigned before Milimani senior principal magistrate Peter Ooko, although they were not charged.

The prosecution applied to have the trio detained at Kileleshwa police station for four days to allow them complete investigations, but the judge Ooko declined the request.

He ordered the prosecution to charge them or release them if they did not have particulars to sustain a charge.

"Why do you want to remand them if you have all the information? Charge them if you have all the particulars and if you don’t let them go," Ooko said.

Mbogo’s lawyers Edwin Sifuna asked the magistrate to grant Mbogo an anticipatory bail to block any arrest in the future.

Sayeed reported to the police that Mbogo and the other two suspects had duped him of the millions after one of them introduced him to a business deal involving sale of gold.

Stephen Wachira, a police officer said that based on the complaint, a team of detectives launched investigation leading to the apprehension of the three on Monday at a house in Parklands.

Police seized over one hundred gold imitated cubes, which have been taken to mines and geology department for further tests. Police also confiscated their mobiles phones.

"We require time to forward their mobile phones to cybercrime experts for retrieval of some messages which will assist us to complete our investigations," the officer said.