Fake anti-graft officials arrested for duping police, harassing shop owners

According to EACC, the two suspects are believed to be part of a five-member syndicate that works under a private entity called Multi-Works & Rights Enforcements. 

The company is said to target business owners by posing as Anti-Counterfeit inspectors to extort money from them.

The organisation has in the past duped the National Police Service (NPS) to assign police officers to accompany them in conducting raids and arrests in fake crackdowns.

"In duping the police to assign armed officers to escort them during shop raids across the country, the suspected criminals rely on a notice published by the fake agency in the Kenya Gazette assigning itself powers and authority to enforce consumer protection laws," EACC stated. 

On Tuesday evening, October 8, detectives from EACC received complaints over suspicious individuals, accompanied by police officers, who sought to extort money from them. 

The fake counterfeit officers purportedly inspected the goods in the shop within Bamburi area and placed the owners in cuffs, alleging they were selling expired goods. 

Following the tipoff, the EACC detectives quickly arrived at the scene and apprehended two of the suspects; Tabitha Wangeci and Wycliffe Nyamanya.

The three other suspects managed to escape from the scene following the melee. 

While sharing information to the commission, the shop owners revealed that the suspects ordered them to pay bribes ranging from Ksh.20,000 to Ksh.50,000 to secure their release. 

The suspects were detained at Mombasa Central Police Station and arraigned before the Mombasa Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday where custodial orders were issued.

They are set to appear before court on Friday morning to take plea.