Detectives have arrested a person of interest, a man identified as Samwel Malish, after scamming a resort in Mombasa.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)’s statement shared on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, Malish and two accomplices booked a three-bedroom luxury apartment for a two-week stay valued at Ksh370,300.
They reportedly sent a fake RTGS payment of Ksh105,800, which never reflected in the host’s account.
“Samwel Malish has been apprehended for pulling off a daring scam at the Jumeirah Palm Resort in Mombasa. He booked a three-bedroom Airbnb for two weeks but vanished into thin air without paying a dime.
“Malish, along with two accomplices, concocted an elaborate scheme to book the luxurious stay online, which would cost a total of Ksh370,300. They first sent an RTGS message for Ksh105,800, but the funds never reflected in Airbnb’s account,” the DCI statement reads in part.
The detectives further disclosed that when questioned about the missing payment, Malish assured the host that the balance would be settled by his company before check-out. However, the trio disappeared without clearing the bill, leaving the host in shock.
“When the host enquired about the missing payment, Malish confidently claimed that his company would cover the bill before their departure. But just like a magician’s disappearing act, he and his accomplices inexplicably vanished, leaving behind nothing but confusion and bills,” the DCI statement reads in part.
Further investigation
According to the detectives, further investigations revealed that Malish has a history of fraud, with criminal activities reported across Africa and even in Australia. He is also linked to a previous incident where a beach hotel in Mombasa was defrauded using a similar method.
“As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered Malish’s notorious history as a con artist, wanted for swindling innocent victims across Africa and even involved in criminal activities in Australia. He and his partners in crime previously defrauded a beach hotel in Mombasa in the same fashion,” the DCI statement reads in part.
Malish is currently in custody pending arraignment, as detectives intensify efforts to track down his accomplices.
“Now in custody, Malish undergoes processing pending arraignment as detectives pursue his elusive accomplices,” the DCI statement added.
