Crackdown on suspected electronic banking fraudsters instensifies

The crackdown on suspected electronic banking fraudsters has intensified with four more suspects being arraigned in court on Friday.

Damaris Muthei Mweu, Regina Nyambura Kigwa, Josephine Mumo Mutua and Lucy Nyawira Ngiri are accused of stealing and conspiracy to commit a felony.

In the first count, Damaris Muthei Mweu is charged that on January 5, 2019 at unknown place in Kenya jointly with others not before court stole Ksh.560,500, property of the Consolidated Bank of Kenya.

She is alternatively charged that on the same date at unknown place within Nairobi county, she withdrew Ksh.559,374.40 from Stanbic Bank through Mpesa and account money transfer knowingly, having reasons to believe it to be stolen money.

WITHDREW USING MPESA

Regina Nyambura Kigwa, is accused that on January 7, 2019 at unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, jointly with others not before court stole Ksh 432,000, property of Consolidated bank.

She is alternatively charged with handling stolen goods on the same date at unknown place within Nairobi county.

Regina was also charged with withdrawing Ksh.431,374.40 from her Stanbic Bank account through Mpesa and Pesa link transaction knowingly or having reasons to believe it to be stolen money.

STOLE KSH.390,000

This even as Josephine Mumo Mutua was charged that on January 7, 2019 at unknown place within Kenya and jointly with others not in court stole Ksh.390,000, property of Consolidated Bank.

She is alternatively charged with dishonestly withdrawing from her Stanbic Bank account Ksh.183,420 through Mpesa transactions knowing or having reasons to believe it to be stolen money.

The three are further charged jointly with conspiracy to commit a felony.

Damaris, Regina and Josephine are accused that on diverse dates between December 1,2018 and January 7, 2019 at unknown place within Kenya, jointly with others not before court conspired to commit a felony namely stealing from Consolidated bank Ksh. 24,588,800.

The trio also faces charges of electronic fraud.

TRANSFERRED MONEY TO OTHER BANKS

In the charge sheet, it is alleged that on diverse dates between December 31, 2018 and January 7, 2019 at unknown place within Kenya and jointly with others not before court, they fraudulently and with intent to steal altered data in a computer system belonging to Consolidated Bank.

They allegedly transferred the money to different accounts of different Kenyan banks thereby causing loss to Consolidated bank of Ksh.24,588,500.

The three who were before Nairobi, Milimani Court Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi denied all the charges and were released them on a bond of Ksh.300,000 with alternative cash bail of Ksh.200,000.

In the same court, Lucy Nyawira Ngiri was charged that on night of July 8,  2018 at unknown place within Kenya, jointly with others not before court stole Ksh.156,000 property of Chase Bank Kenya limited.

ALTERED 43 CLIENTS ACCOUNT BALANCES 

She is alternatively charged that on July 8, 2018 at unknown place within Nairobi otherwise than in the course of stealing dishonesty withdrew from her Chase bank account through purchase visa Ksh.153,400 knowingly or having reasons to believe it was stolen money.

Nyawira is also facing conspiracy to commit a felony charge namely stealing from chase bank of Kenya of Ksh.12,504,000.

She is further charged with Electronic fraud where  it is alleged that on June 12, 2018 and July 8,2018 at unknown place within Kenya and jointly with others not before court fraudulently and with intent to steal altered data in a computer system belonging to Chase Bank.

The suspect apparently altered 43 clients’ account balances thereby causing loss to Chase Bank of Kenya of Ksh.12,504,000.

She was released on a bond of Ksh.500,000 with an alternative cash bail of Ksh.300,000.

I&M BANK EMPLOYEE IN HOT SOUP

Meanwhile in a different court at Milimani Nairobi, an I & M bank employee will remain in police remand for five days for banking fraud officers to complete investigations against him.

Senior Resident magistrate Caroline Muthoni Nzibe allowed detention of David Walumuli Misiko to be investigated over possible involvement with electronic banking fraud which could have cause the bank to lose huge amounts of money, if it succeeded.

His case will be mentioned on February 6, 2019 while the other accused cases will be mentioned on February 11, 2018.