BY SAM ALFAN .
The police have been allowed to detain two women for seven days to allow the completion of investigations into alleged theft of Sh4.8 million from the ambassador of Kingdom of Belgium.
Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Benard Ochoi allowed police to detain Belinda Jepkemboi and Vyonne Chepkirul for one week as they conclude investigations on alleged fraud.
The court heard that the two women stole the money from Jerome Rouse’s bank account.
Investigators from Gigiri police station had sought court’s permission to hold the suspects for 10 days to complete the probe.
In an affidavit, Police Inspector Lawrence Irungu said they were investigating several offences including intent to defraud, stealing, conspiracy to defraud and identity theft.
Several other persons, suspected to be accomplices, have been presented to court.
Inspector Irungu told the court that the two women have been on the run for the past five months, as they shifted from one town to another.
He said efforts to apprehend them proved difficult as they moved from Nairobi to Mombasa, then to Bomet and lately Kericho where they were nabbed.
“The syndicate has vested their energy in defrauding senior elderly Kenyan and foreign citizens who are pensioners and are enjoying their retirement and it is a wide range of fraudsters from various departments Including ministry of health, Safaricom as well as various banking institutions within the republic,” police inspector told the duty court.
He added that investigations in the matter are not yet complete as they are yet to record statement from over 15 victims and other key witnesses and who hail from different parts of the country.
“The respondent’s (Belinda Jepkembol and Vyonne Chepkirul) mobile phones which were used in the heinous acts have been presented to Cyber-crime unit based at DCI HOs forensic lab for further analysis,” officer told the court.
He added that state through the investigating officer is yet to recover other mobile phones that are believed to be in the partial residential of the respondents within Nairobi, Mombasa and Bomet counties.
He said the offences they are likely to face are serious, and would attract severe penalties. In that regard, the two were likely to go into hiding if freed.
The court further heard that there are other accomplices who are still at large, and the two women have indicated their willingness to lead to their arrest and which might be defeated should they be released.
The two women were arrested within Kericho town on 14 October 2023 ot about 0100 hours and booked at Gigiri Police Station.
According to the investigating officer, the two are well known fraudsters based within Kipchimchim, Kericho county and they form part of a larger syndicate that has for a long time terrorized Kenyans and foreigners in matters regarding swim swaps, theft among other cyber related crimes.
