Fred Mukinda
15 July 2008
Nairobi — Prison officers are being investigated over their involvement in a syndicate that fleeced Kenyans of millions of shillings through non-existent lotteries.
Initial investigations traced the cartel's operations to major prisons around the country, but detectives found out that, to succeed, the inmates must have had the blessings of the officers.
Prisons' public relations officer Dickson Mwakazi said they had sought the help of the police in the matter.
At the weekend, 350 mobile phones and 400 unused SIM cards were recovered after a search of prisoners' blocks at the Kamiti Maximum Prison.
Some 270 phones had been recovered after an earlier search at the Naivasha Prison.
A register that bore names of people who were being targeted was also found.
Though Mr Mwakazi declined to disclose the names, he said prominent personalities had been listed.
He also revealed that new equipment that would disable mobile phone communication within prison precincts would be installed soon.
Mr Mwakazi added that the syndicate had now spread to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Tanzania.
The crooks send congratulatory messages to unsuspecting phone users, informing them that they have won a promotion and ask them to call a given number.
Those who make the calls are told to send money to specified locations and others are even threatened with death if they don't send the money.
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