Two police officers arrested after losing firearm to a gold scammer
Two police officers from Muungano Police Station have been arrested for losing their firearm in a gold scam at Sarova Panafric Hotel in Nairobi.
The officers, Samuel Nganga and William Karema Macharia, were allegedly posing as potential buyers of gold from a dealer who identified himself as Steve Kimani.
According to the digital Occurrence Book (OB) at Nairobi County DCI Headquarters, the officers were issued with Ceska pistols on March 17, 2023, allegedly to arrest a gold dealer whom they had gotten information about. The officers posed as potential buyers and arranged to meet the dealer at the hotel.
Once they arrived at the hotel, they sat down with the dealer. They engaged in a lengthy discussion and took drinks. At some point, the dealer took Macharia aside for further discussion, leaving Nganga alone.
When the dealer took longer than expected, Nganga grew suspicious and went to check on his colleague.
Upon reaching the spot where Macharia had gone with the dealer, he realized that the dealer had disappeared, and Macharia had lost his firearm. The officers searched the hotel, but the dealer had already fled through a backyard exit.
The two officers then went to the hotel’s security staff to seek assistance, but they were unable to locate the dealer.
The security staff at the hotel noticed the two officers returning to the hotel on the afternoon of March 21, 2023, and promptly alerted the DCI Nairobi County Headquarters. Nganga reported that his firearm was in his residence at Muungano area.
Officers were dispatched to arrest the two officers, who were subsequently taken into custody at the Mlolongo police station.