Fake Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) officials have been arrested by police in Nakuru as they tried to solicit for a bribe from a shop owner.
The fake officers allegedly accused the shop owner, Simon Karanja, who was operating on Kenyatta Avenue, of violating the copyright rules.
The three middle-aged men were nabbed after the businessman alerted police on becoming suspicious about them.
Confirming the incident, Nakuru police boss Bernard Kioko said the three had fake MCSK identification cards and had demanded a Sh5,000 bribe from the trader for allegedly operating with an expired MCSK licence.
“Some three young men were arrested by police for posing as copyright officials and demanding some money from a shop owner in town," the police boss said.
"The shop owner doubted them and he alerted his brother who secretly came with the police and they were nabbed. They had fake identification cards and upon interrogation they were found to be fake agents,” said Kioko.
Karanja said he suspected the men because anytime the copyright officials come for inspections they are accompanied by police officers but the three were on their own.
“I was almost giving them the cash when I thought twice and texted my brother who then rushed to call the police," Karanja said.
"I lied to them to wait for a while as my brother was bringing the money and that is when the police came in.”
The three are expected to be arraigned in court tomorrow after investigations are concluded.
Kioko called on traders to be more vigilant and report any suspicious persons who come in the name of copyright officials.