Man Behind Con Scheme Targeting MPs is Mentally Ill, Court Told

A man accused of being behind a con scheme targeting MPs was on Tuesday arraigned in court to face charges related to fraud and extortion.

The court ordered the suspect be detained for four days to allow police to conclude investigations on extortion allegations facing him.

Resident Magistrate Christine Njagi also directed mental tests be carried out on Waziri Benson Mazubo alias Waziri Chacha at the Mathare Mental Hospital and the report be tabled before the court.

This was after the 25-year-old's lawyer, Job Ngeresa told the court that his client has been seeking treatment for mental illness.

“Your honor, I beseech the court that the respondent be taken for mental assessment. He has a brain tumor,” said Ngeresa.

Chief Inspector John Kiprop, who is leading the investigation team, pleaded for more time from the judge, saying the suspect is also under probe for soliciting cash by posing as a government officer.

Chacha was apprehended on Sunday morning in Tarime, Tanzania after a well-coordinated operation between police of the two countries, Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti said.

Kinoti said that Chacha was headed to the Democratic Republic of Congo when he was arrested, but his lawyer refuted the claim noting that Chacha was on his way to seek treatment at Mwibiri Hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Chacha is alleged to have used a fake Mpesa account registered in the name of Murang'a Woman Representative, Sabina Chege to extort cash from MPs, Cabinet Secretaries and other top State officers.

The matter will be mentioned  on April 9th.