Zambia police detain three suspects for allegedly defrauding Japanese businessman of $80,000

The Zambia Police have detained three suspects for allegedly defrauding Satoshi Sakamoto, a 62-year-old Japanese businessman, of US$80,000 under the guise of facilitating a gold purchase.

Police Public Relations Officer, Rae Hamoonga, identified the main suspect as Kelvin Bwalya Sampa, a Zambian businessman, who was accused of working with others to deceive Sakamoto.

The fraud took place between August and September 2024, when Sampa, through mutual acquaintance Kunihiro Fugishima, a Japanese-Tanzanian national, lured Sakamoto into a fake gold deal.

Sakamoto withdrew US$80,000 from Japan and traveled to Zambia via Tanzania, where he handed the money to Fugishima.

In Zambia, Sampa introduced Sakamoto to alleged gold sellers, but after negotiations failed, Sampa claimed the sellers were dangerous criminals and convinced Sakamoto to hand over the money for safekeeping.

When the deal fell apart and attempts to recover the funds were met with excuses, Sakamoto returned to Zambia on September 28, 2024. Sampa then claimed the money was locked in a safe, but when opened on October 3, it was found to contain fake US$100 notes and paper cuttings.

The police have since detained Sampa, Fugishima, and a third accomplice, Martin Mabo, after a search of Sampa’s vehicle revealed more fake currency.

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