By Collins Wanzallah
A gold scammer arrested on Saturday for allegedly conning a foreign national of Ksh 38 million under the pretext of selling 500 kilograms of gold has been charged in a Milimani court in Nairobi. Steve Okoth Odek, also known as David Bett, was arraigned before Milimani Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe, where he denied two charges against him.
In the first charge, Odek was accused of conspiring with others not present in court to steal USD 265,200 (equivalent to Ksh 38,188,800) from Asianic Limited between February 1 and 2, 2024, within Nairobi County. The charge further stated that Odek and his accomplices falsely claimed they could sell 580 kilograms of gold to the firm, knowing it was a lie.
In the second charge, Odek was accused of obtaining the same amount, USD 265,200, from Asianic Limited between February 1 and August 2, 2024, under pretences, claiming he could deliver the 580 kilograms of gold. Police records revealed that Odek had entered into two separate gold purchase agreements with the victim on February 6, 2024. The victim was to purchase 500 kilograms of gold on March 14, 2024, and another 5080 kilograms, with each kilogram priced at USD 40,000.
Authorities added that the second contract followed the failure of the first deal, with Odek promising to deliver the gold only after the buyer covered additional costs, including jet chartering, taxes, and insurance.
Despite these conditions, Odek once again failed to deliver the gold. To keep the scam alive, he provided 20 kilograms of “gold bars” as collateral, which the victim, unaware of the fraud, accepted. The victim ultimately paid the full amount in dollars. The magistrate is expected to rule on Tuesday whether Odek will be granted bond.
