Salim Swaleh, Director of Press at the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, is among several suspects arrested in connection with a complex fraud scheme at Musalia Mudavadi’s office. According to a press release issued by Peter Warutere, Secretary of Strategic Communications at Mudavadi’s office, the suspects were apprehended following a tip-off and are facing charges of impersonation, fraud, and abuse of office.
“The arrests followed a tipoff that alerted OPCS-MFDA security, who then mounted intense surveillance at the OPCS-MFDA Railways Office to disrupt the reported nefarious acts of impersonation and abuse of the facility by the fraudsters,” the statement reads in part.
Investigations revealed that a group posing as visitors gained individual access to the Railways Building on various dates and times by impersonating VIP guests or government officers, as well as the officers they claimed to be visiting.
According to Mudavadi’s office, the group’s victims were primarily foreigners, who were led into the Railways Building under the pretense of meeting with high-ranking government officials in exchange for favors and bribes.
Further investigations into the fraudsters’ operations uncovered co-conspirators, including government officials who facilitated their illegal activities. Among those apprehended was Salim Swaleh, the Director of Press at Mudavadi’s office, after the swindlers were found with fake door switch-nametags inside his office.
“Apparently, government officers arrested had perfected “renting” office space to criminals by either vacating their offices for the fraudsters’ use, or deceptively misrepresenting themselves,” the statement from CS Mudavadi’s office states.
“This deception also meant switching legitimate name tags with fake ones on office doors to advance the scams.”
Detectives say the suspects attempted to bribe their way out shortly after being arrested.
“Upon being smoked out in one of the OPCS-MFDA Railway offices where the confidence tricksters had settled in wait for their victims on Saturday, the group had the audacity of attempting to bribe their way out,” the statement reads.
