30-Year-Old Eric Latiff Impersonator Arrested By DCI Detectives In Kikuyu
Police have arrested a man suspected of impersonating journalist Eric Latiff and contacted guests on his show before requesting handouts from them.
According to the DCI, the suspect, 30, was arrested in Kikuyu’s Zambezi area and his phone, which he was using for criminal activity, was seized.
Messages discovered on the cell phone revealed that he had targeted unsuspecting prominent individuals known to other renowned journalists in Kenya’s media industry.
“In the imposture dating back to 2023, the suspect has been personating journalist and radio host Eric Latiff of Standard Group’s Spice FM, reaching out to guests hosted by the media personality in his Situation Room show,” the DCI said.
BUMPY ROAD AHEAD FOR SOFT-LIFE SEEKER
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) June 12, 2024
A 30-year-old man who has been siphoning monies from unsuspecting high ranking personalities by impersonating renowned journalists and show hosts is quenching his craving for easy goodies at a city police cell.
Julius Gacheru Wangari alias… pic.twitter.com/1uR4sW8NaO
In the grand scheme of things, detectives said the suspect sends ‘thank you’ messages to the guests after each show before coning them under the guise of needing “kakitu nimekwama mahali”.
According to the DCI, the suspect’s targets include a Principal Secretary, a well-known businessman, a politician, and a senior officer at a power utility company.
“Upon arrest and brief interrogation, the suspect alleged to be a diploma holder in journalism from a renowned media institution in the country, and previously working with a religious FM radio,” the DCI said in a statement.
Police said they have since recovered crucial evidence from the suspect, including the SIM cards he used to send messages to his victims and receive the requested cash.
The devices have been submitted to the Digital Forensic Laboratory for examination.
“Meanwhile, a Milimani court has granted detectives at the Nairobi Regional Headquarters seven days to complete investigations,” the DCI said.
The development occurred on the same day that DCI Director Mohamed Amin announced that the department had successfully contained the threat of money laundering cases involving fake gold transactions.
Amin, who spoke at the DCI headquarters on Tuesday, June 11, when he hosted FBI director Christopher Wray, said that some of the suspects in the racket are foreigners from mineral-rich countries and Kenya as a transit hub.
“We believe that this type of fraud has more to it in the underworld of money laundering, and that’s why our concerted efforts will eventually bring it to its knees,” he said.
30-Year-Old Eric Latiff Impersonator Arrested By DCI Detectives In Kikuyu
