Thika: Four Arrested for Using Forged LPOs to Obtain Goods Worth Over Sh. 3.2 Million

Detectives from the Operations Actions Team (OAT) have arrested four suspects accused of forging Local Purchase Orders (LPOs) to fraudulently acquire goods valued at Sh. 3,249,500 in Thika town.

According to investigators, the group had been posing as legitimate clients and using counterfeit LPOs bearing the letterhead of Chandaria Ltd to obtain Bidco products. The suspects reportedly succeeded in collecting deliveries on two different occasions before their scheme was uncovered.

Their arrest follows weeks of discreet surveillance by OAT officers, who had been tracking the group’s movements after receiving intelligence on the ongoing scam. The breakthrough came when detectives learned of yet another planned attempt.

Acting swiftly, officers intercepted the suspects in the act, led by Haron Mwangi Ndung’u, who was driving their getaway vehicle, an Isuzu lorry, registration KDB 249Z, white in colour. With him were accomplices James Nyaga Munyutha, Philip Njenga and Paul Ngugi. The four were headed to Bidco once again, this time armed with another forged LPO allegedly meant to secure goods worth Sh. 1,770,740.

All four suspects were arrested on the spot and placed in custody. They are currently undergoing processing ahead of their expected arraignment. Meanwhile, the seized lorry has been detained as an exhibit as investigations continue.