An IT specialist has been detained for seven days over an alleged Sh49 million computer fraud involving a fintech company.
Joseph Momanyi appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) asked the court for more time to complete its investigations.
Man detained over Sh49 million computer fraud
Police accuse Momanyi of working with accomplices to hack into a fintech company’s systems and transfer millions of shillings to themselves.
He is also under investigation for alleged money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
The DCI opened inquiry file ECCU 65/2024 after Web Tribe Limited reported the loss of the funds.
Web Tribe Limited, a Kenyan company that provides digital transaction platforms, reported the alleged breach to investigators.
JamboPay system allegedly hacked
According to the DCI, the alleged fraud occurred between July 19 and July 23, 2024.
The company reported that unauthorised individuals gained access to its JamboPay client portal.
The attackers allegedly transferred approximately Sh49,095,968 from the company’s accounts.
The money reportedly moved through mobile banking wallets, bank accounts and till numbers.
Inspector Nickson Ngigi of the DCI headquarters filed an affidavit in support of the detention request.
He said the attackers accessed the JamboPay portal through legitimate customer profiles linked to Korapay, Fincra and JamboPay transaction merchants.
The attackers allegedly changed and disabled mobile numbers used to receive transaction notifications and one-time passwords (OTPs).
DCI links suspect to alleged computer fraud
Investigators allege that Momanyi helped facilitate the transfer of the funds.
According to the DCI, he allegedly recruited individuals to operate bank accounts and acquired accounts used to move the money.
“Investigations have established that (Momanyi) facilitated the commission of the offence by procuring, recruiting individuals to operate and purchasing the subject bank accounts,” the affidavit states.
The DCI also alleges that Momanyi used mobile numbers registered under other people’s names.
Investigators claim he communicated through WhatsApp calls to avoid detection and arrest.
Police recover SIM cards and electronic devices
Police arrested Momanyi at his home in Kahawa West on the night of April 12.
During a search of the house, investigators allegedly recovered several SIM cards registered under different names.
They also recovered multiple mobile phones and a laptop.
The DCI intends to trace the registered owners of the SIM cards and record their statements.
Investigators will also subject the phones and laptop to forensic examination.
DCI suspects wider fraud syndicate
The DCI told the court that intelligence suggested Momanyi could belong to a larger criminal syndicate.
Investigators said the suspect had indicated that he was willing to help identify other members of the alleged syndicate.
The DCI argued that his cooperation could assist investigators because he allegedly knows the other suspects.
However, investigators said they required a court order to continue holding him in custody.
Court grants seven-day detention
The DCI initially sought permission to detain Momanyi for 10 days while completing the investigations.
However, Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi granted investigators seven days.
During the detention period, police will continue tracing the alleged accomplices, verifying Momanyi’s identity and examining the recovered electronic devices.
