3 police officers, from the General Service Unit (GSU), were arraigned at the Mavoko Law Court on Wednesday for allegedly kidnapping a foreigner.
The incident occurred on January 8, 2024 in Mulolongo, Machakos county.
The GSU officers were under police custody for a week as investigations into the matter continued. This is after the prosecution sought custodial orders to finalise investigations.
The victim who is a Chinese national was kidnapped on his way to work. Apparently, two cars blocked his vehicle before the suspects cuffed him and sped off towards Machakos.
His friends reported his disappearance after waiting for him long enough, and he failed to show up at work. Detectives traced him to Mua hills in Machakos.
But when the team was being deployed in search of him, the panic-stricken victim resurfaced at Athi River and narrated his ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers who also robbed him.
Police have established that five men including a Chinese national, who is suspected to be the mastermind, and a taxi driver were involved in the kidnapping.
The mastermind, upon arrival at the Mua hills, is said to have called the victim’s family back in China and demanded an unknown amount of ransom which was wired to a bank in China. After the money was deposited, the accomplices in China confirmed that the family had complied, and the victim was released.
DCI detectives initiated the search and probe into the kidnapping right from Mombasa Road, where two vehicles were picked as vehicles of interest.
On Friday the taxi was traced in Rongai and the owner was arrested, investigations reveal that the main suspect is still at large and was a former staff at the victim’s company. He was also in a constant communication with the arrested officers.
“DCI’s Crime Research and Intelligence detectives initiated a systematic probe into the abduction right from Mombasa Rd, where two vehicles, a taxi Reg no. KDL 070P and another KAN car were picked as vehicles of interest.
“On Friday, January 12, the taxi was traced to Rongai and the owner was arrested. He however informed the police that on the day in question, a friend of his had borrowed his car while he (the owner) took his kids to school on the reporting day,”DCI said
Police say they are investigating to establish whether there is a bigger cartel behind the incident.