Police nab suspect accused of impersonating radio host Eric Latiff to defraud high-profile individuals

A 30-year-old man, Julius Gacheru Wangari, also known as Chris, has been arrested for what police termed as impersonating prominent journalists and radio hosts to swindle money from unsuspecting high-profile individuals.

In a statement on Wednesday, June 12, 2023, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspect was apprehended in the Zambezi area of Kikuyu in Kiambu County, where authorities noted that they seized various communication gadgets linked to his fraudulent activities.

“Julius Gacheru Wangari alias Chris was flushed from his base at Zambezi area of Kikuyu in Kiambu County, and the communication gadgets used in the diddles were seized,” DCI said.

According to police, Wangari’s scheme, which dates back to 2023, involved impersonating Eric Latiff, a well-known journalist and radio host at Standard Group’s Spice FM.

“While in the guise, the suspect (who must be a religious follower of all the shows hosted by the complainant) has been sending ‘thank you’ messages to the well-to-do guests after every show, but just as a pick up line before embarking on his tactical gambits,” DCI stated. 

Police said among the victims who fell prey to Wangari’s scam were a Principal Secretary, a prominent businessman and politician, a high-ranking director at Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), and an official from the Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya.

According to authorities, these individuals lost thousands of shillings to Wangari, who claimed to be Latiff and fabricated stories about needing financial assistance.

During a brief interrogation following his arrest, Wangari claimed to hold a diploma in journalism from a well-known media institution in Kenya and mentioned his previous employment at a religious FM radio station.

Crucial evidence, including the SIM cards used to communicate with his victims and receive the defrauded money, was found in his possession. These items have been handed over to the Digital Forensic Laboratory for further analysis.

A Milimani court has granted detectives at the Nairobi Regional Headquarters seven days to complete their investigations into the case. This period will allow authorities to gather more evidence and build a stronger case against Wangari.

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