The EACC has confirmed the arrest of a man posing as the agency’s investigator and extorting individuals he purports to be investigating.
Ibrahim Ngamau Wangari was arrested on Friday evening at Quivers Lounge following a report from a complainant.
The complainant was among the millers who had been enlisted by the government to supply subsidised maize flour just before the August 2022 general elections.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission said Ngamau started calling the complainant on Monday, November 21, saying he was conducting investigations in the Ministry of Agriculture relating to the supply of subsidised maize flour.
He assured the complainant that he would ensure there will be no adverse findings on him.
Ngamau also promised to assist him get any outstanding payment from the ministry in exchange for an amount of money they would agree on in a meeting.
The impostor went ahead and summoned the complainant to appear before him on Friday, November 25, at EACC Integrity Centre Offices for an interview and statement recording.
He directed the complainant to carry all the documents he used to supply the subsidised unga, Tax Compliance Certificate, audit reports and all his bank account statements from January 2022 for inspection.
This was meant to be a part of the “ongoing investigation.”
As the complainant was on his way to the Integrity Centre, Ngamau called to change the venue to Quivers Lounge, saying it was more convenient for their discussion.
They were to negotiate on the amount the complainant would pay for protection from investigations as well as assistance to get his payment from the agricultural ministry.
“Unknown to the suspect, the complainant had already reported the matter to EACC,” the agency said.
Ngamau was arrested by EACC detectives while waiting to receive the complainant at the Lounge and taken to the Integrity Center police station for interrogation.
He was later transferred to Kilimani Police Station where he is currently being held pending further processing in accordance with the law.
It is believed that Ngamau is one among notorious impostors and fraudsters posing as EACC Investigators and soliciting money and other favours from state officials in both national and county governments.
His arrest comes in the wake of numerous complaints filed to the anti-graft body by members of the public regarding impostors.
According to Section 34 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003, posing as an EACC official attracts a fine of not more than Sh300,000, a jail term of not more than three years, or both.
The aforementioned section states that.
“No person other than an investigator shall represent himself to be or act as an investigator, and a person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to both.”
