Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) have arrested two suspects alleged to have defrauded ambassador Hadi Farajvand of an unknown amount of money after introducing themselves as senior Interior ministry officials who could secure the release of Iranian nationals Ahmad Abolfathi Mohammed and Sayed Mansour Mousavi who are in police custody pending a decision by the Supreme Court on whether to release them or not.
Police are investigating Mr Wesley Kiptanui Kipkemoi and Mr Shemgrant Agyei for their alleged role in the elaborate plan straight out of a spy movie. The two, who are spent the weekend in police custody after being questioned by DCI detectives, are likely to be taken to court today.
Police sources allege the ambassador had been looking for high-level contacts in government who could help him to illegally secure the release of Mr Mohammed and Mr Mousavi and smuggle them out of Kenya. Security sources suspect the two Iranian nationals are members of the Quds Force — an elite unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard that carries out covert foreign missions, including terror attacks.
In the saga that has been going on since 2012, the two claimed they had come to the country as tourists when they were arrested. They were, however, linked to a lethal explosive identified as RDX and were accused of planning a terror attack. A Nairobi court sentenced them to life imprisonment.
DPP Noordin Haji said he was “deeply concerned” about the allegations that were being investigated on plans to unlawfully release the suspects from custody.
“This is unacceptable and a clear attempt to subvert the course of justice and the rule of law. I intend to notify the Supreme Court about the latest developments because the two are now a flight risk. There may be need to review the conditions in which they are held,” he said.
The DPP said the two suspects will be taken to court but he will also write to Kenya’s Foreign Affairs ministry to summon the ambassador, who enjoys diplomatic immunity, for an explanation.
But sources at the Foreign ministry, who spoke in confidence, said Mr Farajvand had indicated he had been contacted by impersonators who he now wanted arrested.
No decision had been reached but, in such situations, the ambassador is usually summoned or the host country demands a recall, depending on the gravity of the situation.
At the DCI, Mr Kipkemoi is said to have admitted he was introduced to the ambassador in June 2018 by a friend but denied defrauding him.He claimed the ambassador was initially more keen on business opportunities in South Sudan.
The envoy is alleged to have later brought up the issue of freeing the two Iranians but Mr Kipkemoi, in his account to the police, said his role was to introduce them to a man he described as a businessman and wheeler-dealer (Mr Agyei).