Somali official denied bail in Nairobi over $27,000 gold fraud and terrorism links

A senior Somali government official will remain in custody at the Industrial Area Remand Prison until Monday, when the court will rule on his bail application.

Ismael Abukar Osman faces charges of defrauding a businesswoman of $27,000 (Sh3.5 million) in a fake gold scam. The prosecution has strongly opposed his release, citing links to active terrorism cases and high flight risk.

An affidavit presented before Senior Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe reveals that Osman serves as the Senior Environmental Health and Climate Change Advisor for the Ministry of Health and Human Resources in the Federal Republic of Somalia.

According to court records, Osman who is said to be running a mobile phones business in Eastleigh approached businesswoman Ayan Said Isaak on Jam Street in Eastleigh, Kamkunji Sub-County, with a business proposal. 

He falsely promised to supply her with 180 grams of Singaporean gold.To finance the deal on June 29 of last year, Isaak took out bank loans and borrowed money from friends to hand over the $27,000 to Osman.

The gold was never delivered. As weeks turned into months, Osman reportedly became elusive. Isaak sought intervention from community elders to mediate the dispute, but Osman failed to cooperate or honor a commitment to clear the debt by the end of March 2026.The victim then reported the matter to the authorities.

State counsel Eric Mururu told the court that when investigations commenced, detectives discovered Osman had already been arrested by the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) on April 5, 2026.

Security agencies had been monitoring him before intercepting him in Garissa aboard an Eagle Air bus while he was attempting to flee to Somalia.

Osman faces a separate active criminal case (Case No. E173/2026) at the Kahawa Law Courts. In that matter, he is charged with obtaining registration by false pretenses, contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code. 

The prosecution alleges that Osman illegally obtained a Kenyan passport (No. AK0946042) and a Kenyan National Identity Card (No. 39541346, Serial No. 251412034) under false pretenses.

The prosecution has urged the court to deny bail, describing Osman as a habitual offender. He is also under active investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Gigiri, where he is currently out on police cash bail for a separate matter.

While referencing the bail and bond policy guidelines, the state counsel argued that Osman is a major flight risk who is likely to abscond court and interfere with protected witnesses.

While Article 49 of the Kenyan Constitution grants accused persons the right to bail or bond on reasonable conditions, the prosecution reminded the court that this right is not absolute and remains at the court's discretion. 

The state requested that if the court chooses to grant bail, it must impose strict, stringent conditions to prevent the accused from fleeing the country.The court will deliver its ruling on Monday.