A Milimani court has ordered a convicted fraudster to refund KSh151 million to a Chinese investor after finding him guilty of orchestrating a fake tantalum minerals scam.
The convict, Lumumba Ulundu Patrick, also known as Gabriel Kulonda and Lumumba Patrick, was found guilty of obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code. The conviction followed investigations that revealed he masterminded an elaborate scheme in which containers loaded with sand were falsely presented as valuable tantalum mineral consignments.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the fraud came to light after one of the exported containers was opened overseas and discovered to contain drums filled with sand instead of the promised mineral. The deception resulted in losses amounting to KSh151 million for the investor.
Further investigations uncovered additional containers at the Port of Mombasa that had also been fraudulently documented as tantalum shipments, exposing a wider criminal operation.
The court sentenced the accused and directed him to compensate the victim by refunding the full amount lost in the scam. The ODPP welcomed the ruling, describing it as a major milestone in the fight against transnational fraud and a demonstration of Kenya's commitment to protecting investors and ensuring those involved in economic crimes are brought to justice.
The convict, Lumumba Ulundu Patrick, also known as Gabriel Kulonda and Lumumba Patrick, was found guilty of obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code. The conviction followed investigations that revealed he masterminded an elaborate scheme in which containers loaded with sand were falsely presented as valuable tantalum mineral consignments.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the fraud came to light after one of the exported containers was opened overseas and discovered to contain drums filled with sand instead of the promised mineral. The deception resulted in losses amounting to KSh151 million for the investor.
Further investigations uncovered additional containers at the Port of Mombasa that had also been fraudulently documented as tantalum shipments, exposing a wider criminal operation.
The court sentenced the accused and directed him to compensate the victim by refunding the full amount lost in the scam. The ODPP welcomed the ruling, describing it as a major milestone in the fight against transnational fraud and a demonstration of Kenya's commitment to protecting investors and ensuring those involved in economic crimes are brought to justice.