The primary suspect implicated in a case involving the fraudulent extraction of KSh151 million from a Chinese national in a mineral scam has been apprehended. Ulundu Patrick Lumumba, also known as Gabriel Kulonda or Lumumba Patrick Byarufu, was arrested by the Operations Support Unit (OSU) of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) upon his arrival from Entebbe, Uganda.
According to reports, the suspect orchestrated the scam by filling two containers with sand but falsely declaring them as containing Tantalum minerals, with the intention to deceive the unsuspecting Chinese national and obtain the mentioned sum of money. Authorities intercepted these containers at the port of Mombasa.
The arrest occurred after the suspect managed to evade detection by immigration officials at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and was subsequently tracked down by DCI officers along Harambee Avenue in Nairobi. At the airport, a Stop Order had been placed on his passport under the name Gabriel Kulonda Ilungu. However, the suspect attempted to re-enter using a Ugandan interstate pass card under the name Lumumba Patrick Byarufu and was also found in possession of a Congolese passport under the name Patrick Ulundu Lumumba.
In the case under investigation, the Chinese national suffered a financial loss of KSh151 million when one of three containers purported to contain tantalum minerals was discovered to be filled with sand upon inspection in China. Subsequent investigations revealed that two additional containers, also filled with sand, had been cleared and shipped to Dubai. Efforts are underway to intercept these containers, and authorities are probing potential collusion of port officials in facilitating the illegal transactions.
Although the syndicate managed to obtain over Sh49 million through suspected collaboration with rogue bank officials, their attempt to access the frozen bank account containing the bulk of the funds was thwarted by the timely intervention of OSU operatives. Nevertheless, a legal battle is ongoing between OSU detectives and influential members of the scam ring, who are seeking to redirect the intercepted millions to recently opened local bank accounts.
The suspect is scheduled to appear at the Milimani Law Courts on April 5 for arraignment.
