Police Crime Scene
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On August 11, 2020, law enforcement officials arrested Martin Kikwau Mutangili, effectively concluding a series of fraudulent activities that ensnared numerous victims.
Posing as various high-ranking officials, including a senior officer in the Kenya Defence Forces, a National Intelligence Service spy, and a chief of staff within the Interior Ministry, Mutangili orchestrated a sophisticated scheme that promised lucrative contracts and debt recoveries. The arrest took place at Mutangili’s residence in Syokimau’s Prissy Apartments, where 17 officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), led by the estate chairman, responded to a tip-off.
Initially confronted by a pregnant woman asserting that no one else was present, the officers eventually located Mutangili hidden in a bedroom. A thorough search of the premises uncovered a variety of forged documents, financial records, and a counterfeit firearm certification. Further inquiries disclosed that Mutangili had no legitimate association with the Kenya Defence Forces, National Intelligence Service, or the Interior Ministry.
The Firearm Licensing Board confirmed that the firearm certificate found among his belongings was also fraudulent. Many victims, including Chentankumar Vekaria, recounted their experiences, with Vekaria specifically detailing a loss of Sh65,000 stemming from a fictitious cereals supply agreement. Mutangili's impersonation tactics extended beyond individual victims, as he reportedly leveraged presumed authority to manipulate law enforcement officers.
In August 2020, he was arraigned in the JKIA Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges encompassing forgery, impersonation, and obtaining money under false pretences. Despite his denials, the evidence presented was substantial. On April 25, 2024, Magistrate Njeri Thuku found Mutangili guilty on multiple counts, resulting in a sentence of 12 months in prison for offences related to forgery, obtaining money by false pretences, and impersonation. Although the total potential sentence totalled three years, it was ruled that these would be served concurrently.
Upon appealing the conviction, challenging the adequacy of the evidence, High Court Judge Diana Kavedza upheld the original verdict. Emphasizing the principles of restorative justice, Justice Kavedza opted for a rehabilitative approach rather than extended incarceration. As part of the ruling, Mutangili was placed on two years of probation and ordered to refund Sh55,000 to Vekaria.