Cameroonian 'Wash Wash' Suspect Arrested in Nairobi After Conning an Australian Investor

Police in Nairobi have arrested a Cameroonian national accused of defrauding an Australian investor based in Kenya.

Timson Tiekam Babila alias Jeremy was apprehended at a Kilimani hotel by detectives attached to the Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit (ECCU) following a tip-off from the complainant.

Babila, who is believed to be a ‘wash wash’ specialist, was arrested alongside his accomplices Ernest Abeng Ahuo and Ayong Ronald Aku, all Cameroonian citizens.

Investigations revealed that the 36-year-old suspect, who resides in Kiambu town, lures his victims by duping them that they will make quick cash after cleaning their fake dollars and turning them into real money.

To make this happen, Babila allegedly asks his victims for genuine money for the purchase of chemicals and other materials used to clean the fake notes, usually locked in steel boxes.

Police says an Australian investor with business interests in Kenya and Dubai advanced Sh800,000 to the suspects, only to discover that he had been swindled.

The victim made a report at the ECCU offices and detectives launched a search for the suspects. They laid a trap at a local establishment and the suspects fell for it, hoping to make a killing.

Hawk-eyed detectives who had taken vantage positions in the hotel pounced on the three and arrested them as they made their way in. A heavy, black steel box was recovered from the suspects. 

The DCI is urging persons who might have fallen victim to the fraudsters to report to the officer in charge of the Economic and Commercial Crimes Unit at the DCI headquarters.