A Nairobi woman is in police custody after detectives uncovered an elaborate scheme that allegedly saw a Chinese investor lose more than KSh 13 million in a fake international business deal.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Harriet Mary Wabwire, was arrested in Nairobi’s Tassia estate after weeks of investigations and intelligence-led operations by detectives attached to Kamukunji Police Station.
According to investigators, Wabwire allegedly masterminded a sophisticated fraud operation by presenting herself as a senior executive at OTD Group Limited, a position authorities now believe she falsely claimed in order to win the confidence of her target.
Police say the suspect approached a Chinese investor with what appeared to be a lucrative business opportunity involving the supply and export of aluminium alloys to China. To make the deal appear authentic, she allegedly produced a series of convincing documents, including a forged bill of lading and a counterfeit Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) certificate.
The documents reportedly indicated that a shipment of 24 tonnes of aluminium alloys had already been packed into a container at the Port of Mombasa and was awaiting transportation to Ningbo, one of China’s busiest ports. Everything appeared legitimate, from the paperwork to the shipping details, leaving the investor convinced that the transaction was genuine.
Trusting the documents and the promises made, the investor allegedly transferred approximately USD 101,000—equivalent to more than KSh 13 million—into accounts linked to the suspect.
However, shortly after receiving the money, the alleged businesswoman reportedly vanished without a trace.
Investigators say she switched off her phone, cut all communication with the investor, and went into hiding, triggering alarm bells and prompting a formal complaint to the authorities.
What followed was a painstaking manhunt involving forensic tracking and intelligence gathering. Detectives pursued multiple leads before eventually narrowing down her whereabouts to Tassia, where they moved in and arrested her.
Her arrest brings a dramatic twist to a case that highlights the growing sophistication of fraud schemes targeting both local and international investors. Authorities believe the suspect carefully crafted the illusion of a legitimate export business, using forged documents to create trust and secure a substantial payout.
Wabwire is currently being held in police custody as detectives continue to unravel the full extent of the alleged fraud. Investigators are also seeking to establish whether other individuals may have been involved in the scheme or whether additional victims could have been targeted.
Police have described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the fight against financial crimes and have urged investors to exercise extreme caution when entering into business transactions. They advised individuals and companies to independently verify documents, conduct thorough due diligence, and confirm the authenticity of suppliers before transferring large sums of money.
The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court as investigations continue.
