A Kenyan man has been arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts in connection with a sophisticated fake gold scheme that allegedly defrauded an Australian national of USD 600,000 in a cross-border operation spanning multiple countries.
The accused, Duncan Okaka Okonji, was arrested on March 24, 2026, and presented in court the following day. He was charged with conspiracy to defraud under Section 317 of the Penal Code. Okonji denied the charges and was released on a KSh 5 million bond or an alternative cash bail of KSh 1 million, with two sureties. The case is set for mention on April 7, 2026.
According to investigators from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the case traces back to October 2025, when the victim—while in Dubai—was introduced to an individual identified as Marshall Morrison, who presented himself as an American investor.
Morrison allegedly connected the complainant to Okonji, who claimed to be facilitating a high-value transaction involving a 590-kilogram fake gold consignment. Authorities say the suspects orchestrated an elaborate scheme to convince the victim of the deal’s legitimacy.
As part of the operation, the complainant was reportedly taken to Tanzania, where he was shown what were described as mining sites, before being brought to Kenya for further engagements.
Investigations indicate that the suspects staged multiple high-level meetings and prepared documentation to create the impression that logistics were underway to ship the gold consignment to Dubai. Convinced by the setup, the victim transferred USD 600,000 through Conrad Law Advocates LLC as part of the transaction.
However, suspicions later emerged, prompting the complainant to report the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, which launched investigations leading to Okonji’s arrest.
The case highlights the continued prevalence of fake gold scams, a form of transnational fraud that has repeatedly targeted foreign investors seeking to tap into Africa’s mineral trade. Kenya, in particular, has faced multiple such cases over the years, with fraudsters exploiting gaps in due diligence and leveraging cross-border movements to build credibility.
In past incidents, foreign nationals have reported being lured into similar schemes involving staged site visits, falsified export permits, and fake government endorsements—all designed to extract large sums of money under the guise of legitimate gold deals.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has reiterated its commitment to dismantling these networks, noting that such syndicates often operate across jurisdictions and involve multiple actors playing coordinated roles.
Authorities say efforts are ongoing to trace additional suspects, including the individual identified as Marshall Morrison, and to recover any proceeds linked to the alleged fraud.
The case now proceeds through the judicial system, as investigators continue to unravel what appears to be a well-organized operation targeting international investors.
