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{
"id": 50477,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/50477/?format=api",
"text_counter": 181,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Ojode",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security",
"speaker": {
"id": 197,
"legal_name": "Joshua Orwa Ojode",
"slug": "joshua-ojode"
},
"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I promised to give a provisional report on investigations into the disappearance of the DRC Gold. I wish to state the following: Mr. Speaker, Sir, in January 2011, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) allegedly discovered a loss of 2.5 tonnes of gold minerals worth about Kshs8 billion, which was destined for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai market. The DRC Government officials suspected that the culprits were rebel groups from the Eastern and Northern Kivu region of the DRC and the proceeds may have been used to destabilize the country. Consequently, the Government delegation led by the Minister for International and Regional Corporation, hon. Raymond Shibanda, and the Minister for Mining, hon. Martin Kabwelu, visited Kenya as special envoys of His Excellency Joseph Kabila, the President of the DRC. Mr. Speaker, Sir, they delivered a special message to His Excellency hon. Mwai Kibaki, the President of the Republic of Kenya. The official delegation indicated that there had been continued smuggling of gold from the DRC using forged documentations. Among the documents presented to the Kenyan Government were two forged evaluation and export certificates dated 22nd February 2011 relating to 2.5 tonnes of gold estimated at US$62,500,000 destined for the UAE from Kivu through Kenya. The President of the DRC was, therefore, appealing to the Kenyan Government to cause investigations into the alleged smuggling, arrest the culprits, intercept the gold consignment and surrender the same to the Government of the DRC. Consequently, His Excellency President Mwai Kibaki, the President of the Republic of Kenya, issued instructions for a joint investigations team, comprising of the Kenya Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and officers from the DRC. The team was constituted and investigations commenced on 24th February 2011. The investigations team visited the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Customs offices and obtained records of shipment for scrutiny and discovered that:- (i) KRA records covering the period 25th January 2010 to 20th January 2011 indicated that about 2.6 tonnes of gold was processed for various destinations. (ii) Printouts from the Emirates Airline covering the period 1st January to 24th February 2011 did not have records of gold exports. (iii)Records from Qatar Airline covering 1st January to 24th February 2011 did not also indicate the nature of exports. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on 25th February 2011, a list of 15 suspects was provided by the Congolese team, with details of their Kenyan registered cell phone numbers. Analysis of communication between the numbers of other subscribers, both local and international, is on and efforts are being made to trace the registered subscribers. Subsequently, the investigations team applied and obtained a search warrant to carry out search of their residences and cease any gold minerals or documents related to the stolen gold. Mr. Speaker, Sir, so far, the residences of six of the 15 suspects have been traced and searched without any success. However, one of the suspects, Jean-Claude Mutindo, whose house was searched and ten shiny blocks labeled 500g carat gold DRC assorted stones in plastic bags were recovered. The exhibits were tested by the Government geologist and the ten blocks were found to be brass, and the assorted stones were classified as per their characteristics. The suspect was arrested and charged with the offence of preparation to commit a felony, namely obtaining by false pretences, vide criminal case No.121/171/2011, Kiambu Court File No. 353/2011. The case is pending before court, and is not related to the gold investigations. The team is in the process of tracing the rest of the suspects. On 26th of February 2011, at about 1.15 a.m. a member of the investigation team, Mr. Joseph Cheptarus, was shot dead outside his Soledo Estate, South C, by unknown gangsters. During the incident, the deceased was robbed of his motor vehicle KBM 772 N, Toyota Allion, which was later abandoned along Magadi Road. After the vehicle was dusted for fingerprints, it was handed over to the wife of the deceased. The watchmen guarding the gate at the time were kidnapped and later dumped near Multimedia University College, where they were found the following morning unharmed. Mr. Speaker, Sir, prior to the shooting of the late Joseph Cheptarus, the same gang had carjacked another motorist, Mr. Singh Verdi, who was driving a motor vehicle KBE 444G. The motor vehicle was later recovered within Karen. So far several statements have been recorded and the two cartridges recovered from the scene of the shooting forwarded to ballistic experts for examination. A cell phone stolen from the deceased has not been activated to date. All efforts are being made to trace and arrest the suspects behind the murder. However, so far there is nothing to indicate or connect the murder with the ongoing investigations into the disappearance of gold. Thank you."
}