Man nabbed in suspected kidnap drama

A man was arrested for allegedly holding for ransom an Indian-Kenyan, in a possible new con game in town that has seen some men part with huge sums of money to recover their liberty.

The victim was rescued from a house in Mirema area, Kasarani on Tuesday, following a probe by detectives.

In their bid to walk pockets full without sweat or dirt, the suspect and his accomplice allegedly plotted the kidnapping of the victim by having a woman lure the victim to her house, police revealed.

According to police, once inside for a business yet to be established, the lady signaled the prime suspect in custody and his right-hand man, who stormed in laying allegations that the then fear-stricken visitor of being in the company of his woman.

Threatening to break all hell loose should the victim not comply, the gang allegedly ordered him to share his family's contacts whereby they demanded ransom in exchange for his release.

Fearing for the safety of their kin, family members immediately raised Sh310,000 as advance payment, before seeking police assistance at Parklands Police Station, Kabati Police Station in Thika and through the #FichuakwaDCI hotline.

DCI detectives backed up by crime researchers from CRIB, who forensically traced the suspects' hideout at the Mirema area of Kasarani, Nairobi.

Fortunate for the suspect’s accomplices, they had just pocketed their share and gone shopping when the detectives arrived.

At the house, the officers recovered the mobile phone used to call the victim's family and kept it as an exhibit.

The victim is a happy man after being reunited with his family, Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei said.

The hunt for the other suspects in the saga is ongoing, police said adding the arrested one will take plea with various charges.

Such con games to get quick money are on the rise amid warnings to suspects of dire consequences.

Elsewhere, a suspect in multiple fraud cases against business enterprises was Tuesday arrested while attempting to flee the country.

The man was intercepted at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The police said the suspect has allegedly been reaching out to persons and entities with enticing tender offers, only to disappear with the deliveries once the supplies are received.

In one classic case, the man and an accomplice are alleged to have conspired to defraud three suppliers of goods worth over Sh32.8 million, goods they alleged were being procured for distribution as aid to vulnerable persons.

After the delivery was made, the officials instead offered them for sale in the local market, thereafter becoming elusive.

According to police reports, attempts by the companies to recover their goods or monies were met with frustrations.

That informed the decision to report to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters.

The case was taken up by the Operation Support Unit who launched a manhunt for the suspects.

Getting wind that the police were hot on his trail, the man is alleged to have plotted an escape plan.

The same was foiled when he was arrested at JKIA pending further probe and possible arraignment.