10 high-level fraud syndicate suspects have been arraigned before Milimani Law courts.
The DCI, through an application, is seeking orders to detain them for 7 days to allow the completion of investigations.
Isaac Kipkemoi, Gideon Rono, Moses Rono, Collins Kipyegon, Maxwell Ributhu, Edwin Cheruiyot, Gedion Kiru, Peter Wambui, Brenda Chepng’eno and Linda Cherono are believed to be members of the fraud syndicate.
They obtained Kes 449.6 million through a popular mobile phone platform Safaricom.
The service provider through its Fuliza overdraft service, lost the money in a well-coordinated scheme by the 10 suspects.
” The complainant at NCBA bank requested this Unit to carry on investigations into fraudulent transactions perpetrated through their digital borrowing scheme.” said the Investigating officer.
According to DCI, the suspects used over 123,000 Safaricom lines to borrow money from fuliza in January 2022.
“Your honour, this is a clear case of fraud wherein the perpetrators hatched a meticulous plan of acquiring several sim cards. They opened many bank accounts and applied for fuliza loans with the intention of not paying them back. We seek 7-day custodial order to complete our investigations.” pleaded the investigating officer.
The suspects were in possession of 3000 Safaricom and Airtel SIM cards, 7 laptops, over 40 mobile phones, 10 IDs, 14 Safaricom registering machines assorted electronics and motor vehicles.
They were using fraudulently generated identity card numbers to register the SIM cards before proceeding to borrow money through Fuliza application.
The court detained them until Monday February 13, when Hon. Ondieki will rule on whether to allow the detention application or release the suspects.
