Jared Kiasa Otieno, a businessman previously charged in a Sh300 million fraud case and linked to money laundering, has reportedly secured a quiet acquittal.
According to allegations, Otieno obtained his freedom through substantial bribery of both prosecution officials and the judiciary.
At one point in the case, the complainant sought to appoint a private prosecutor, but this request was denied by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which also linked Otieno to high-level money laundering.
“We intend to pursue this case to its conclusion, and there is no cause for the complainant to worry,” the ODPP stated at the time, adding that further charges could be amended upon completion of investigations.
Despite these assurances, sources suggest that Otieno allegedly spent large sums to facilitate his acquittal. He has since been accused of continuing to defraud investors through his company.
In previous court hearings, the complainant’s legal team repeatedly raised concerns with the ODPP over the handling of the case.
The charges stemmed from accusations that Otieno, along with sixteen accomplices, defrauded Sh300 million from Sounthorn Chanthavong, a director of the Simoung Group from Laos, by offering a fake gold transaction. Between February 8 and February 25, Otieno and his associates allegedly lured Chanthavong to Kaputei Gardens in Nairobi, where they showcased metal boxes filled with what appeared to be gold bars, giving the impression of a legitimate gold deal.
The operation was conducted through an office under the name Nirone Safe Keeping, further disguising their intentions.
During Otieno’s arraignment, he was charged alongside individuals including Philip Nashon Aroko, Robert Ouko Owiti, Ricky Okoth Ochieng, Peter Omondi, Michael Ochieng, Paul Otieno, and others. All suspects denied the charges when presented before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi.
In a recent development, law enforcement raided Otieno’s residence, allegedly recovering several items associated with the fraudulent operation, including mobile phones, 28 steel boxes, sledgehammer heads, desktop computers, and gold-coated iron bars. During the raid, 15 suspects were arrested, further implicating Otieno’s network in the extensive fraud scheme.