Victim in Sh39b military equipment fraud speaks out
Mamdou Amer, a director at Eco Advance Technology LLC, which was the target of a recent scam, said they were contacted by the fraudsters online and asked if they were in a position to supply military equipment.
During negotiations, they went to Harambee Annex, and during their visit, Amer revealed they easily got access into the building and former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa appeared “known by everyone working there”.
Amer said last Thursday, they were asked by Echesa and team to meet at Harambee Annex for signing of the tenders after a “rigorous vetting” by the sacked CS and a “General Juma” on behalf of the government.
The multinational firm supplies anti-terrorism and surveillance equipment for government across the world.
The company even organised and financed a tour by Echesa, a DP ally, to their plant in Poland as well as a series of meetings in Nairobi—at the KICC and at the Department of Defence where Amer said he went thrice through “General Juma”.
Facilitation fee
Echesa, who is no longer in government allegedly, exchanged pleasantries with the secretary and other people in the building before they were directed to “a big room” in one of the floors and indication that officials in the building could be deep inside the scam.
In the room, Amer said, “a lady, who introduced herself as a Personal Assistant to the Deputy President served us with drinking water,” and according to him, everything appeared “perfectly coordinated” for anyone to suspect.
The politician, according to detectives, had received $115,000 (Sh11.5 million) as consultancy and facilitation fee and he was to be paid additional money on delivering the tender documents.
Police have retrieved CCTV footage from the DP’s office to track the movements of the scammers and the probe extends to the airport where the victims said they were picked by a military car and also at a hotel where they met.
