Detectives have arrested a man over an alleged land fraud scheme involving a one-acre property in Nairobi's Muthaiga estate valued at about Ksh12 million.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspect was arrested during an intelligence-led operation at a Hotel in Westlands after investigations linked him to the property.

Investigations began after a complaint was lodged with detectives at DCI Starehe over suspected fraudulent dealings involving the land. The case was later taken over by the DCI's Land Fraud Investigations Unit.

According to detectives, the suspect, through his company, allegedly obtained and used a fake Certificate of Title to claim ownership of the land.

📌 What You Need to Know

After completing investigations, detectives forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved charges against the suspect.

"The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, upon review, found that a prima facie case had been established and approved charges against the suspect," the DCI said.

The suspect is expected to face charges of making a false document, obtaining registration by false pretences, uttering a false document and giving false information to a public officer. He is awaiting arraignment in court.

The arrest comes as Kenya continues to record more cases of land fraud, with buyers losing millions of shillings through fake title deeds, forged documents and fraudulent property transactions.

In another recent case, detectives arrested a Nairobi-based advocate accused of misappropriating more than Sh49.4 million that had been entrusted to him to purchase land. Investigators claim he diverted the money for personal use instead of completing the transaction.

Land disputes have also increasingly found their way to court. Further, in a recent ruling, the Environment and Land Court said anyone claiming that an access road has been blocked must support the claim with official survey maps and credible evidence.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke