Authorities in Kenya have launched a manhunt for an alleged international serial fraudster known by several aliases, including Don Solomon, Mukisa Okello, Tony Taban, Suleiman Malish, Yee, and Big Popa. According to Kenyan authorities, the South Sudanese national is suspected of perpetrating fraud schemes spanning Melbourne, Australia, Kampala, Uganda, and Nairobi, Kenya.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) describes the suspect as a self-styled millionaire who has recently been spotted in Nairobi’s Roysambu neighborhood. He is wanted for depositing a bad check for KES 599,950 (approximately $5,300) in favor of Naivas Limited, as well as fraudulently obtaining ten 55-inch television sets from a Naivas branch. Previously arraigned in court for forgery and residing in Kenya illegally, the man is also accused of using top-tier hotels in Nairobi without paying.
The suspect’s trail of alleged fraud extends to Uganda, where he is believed to have gifted a TV host a stolen car from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Furthermore, he has been accused of committing fraud and related offenses at banks in Melbourne, Australia. In 2021, he was arrested and imprisoned in Uganda for impersonation, accumulating debts, and electronic fraud, but his subsequent release and departure from prison remain unclear.
The DCI is using the suspect’s social media accounts to track him and gather evidence. He has maintained a flashy lifestyle, garnering attention from celebrities and social media users alike. However, several individuals who have taken pictures with him have deleted their photos, perhaps fearing potential backlash.
As authorities continue their pursuit of ‘Big Popa,’ the search for this elusive figure highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in apprehending criminals who exploit technology and international borders.