A Nairobi court has granted detectives five days to detain two men as investigations continue into a suspected SIM swap network linked to the loss of millions of shillings from a bank and mobile money accounts.
Cyrus Mochache Bosire and Ronald Langat appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Gethi Kibiru after they were arrested in Utawala on October 2.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had asked the court to allow officers to hold the two for 15 days at Gigiri Police Station, but the court granted a five-day detention period.
The two are being investigated over several offences, including theft, forgery, personation, computer fraud, unauthorised access to personal data and fraudulent use of electronic information.
According to police documents presented in court, detectives are investigating a suspected criminal network that allegedly takes control of mobile phone numbers through fraudulent SIM replacements.
The numbers are then allegedly used to access victims’ bank and mobile money accounts.One of the cases under investigation involves Dorice Achieng Omolo, who travelled to London on September 10.
Police allege that her Safaricom line was fraudulently replaced on the same day.Investigators claim that after the SIM replacement, the perpetrators gained access to her UN DT Sacco account and withdrew Ksh.7,505,705.
Police further allege that a Ksh.10 million loan was obtained from the Sacco fraudulently before the money was moved through several M-Pesa and bank accounts.
Detectives told the court that some of the suspected proceeds had been traced to accounts allegedly connected to Bosire and Langat.
The investigation has also turned to the possibility that personal information belonging to travellers may have been accessed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Police suspect that people with access to travellers’ information could have supplied personal details to members of the suspected network.
Detectives are also investigating a Mazda CX-5, registration number KDR 293F, which was captured by CCTV cameras at Two Rivers Mall around the time Omolo’s mobile line was allegedly replaced.
Police have requested records from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to identify the vehicle’s registered owner and establish whether it is linked to the investigation.
Mobile phones recovered from the two suspects allegedly contain messages relating to withdrawals from Omolo’s Sacco account.
The devices are yet to undergo forensic examination by DCI cybercrime investigators.Officers also recovered 13 Kenyan identity cards and five airline tickets from the suspects.
Investigators said the documents will be verified to establish their owners and determine whether they were obtained or used in connection with the suspected offences.
The DCI is also awaiting forensic analysis of CCTV footage from Two Rivers Mall as detectives work to establish the movements of people who may have been involved in the transactions.
Police told the court that more than 15 witnesses and victims are yet to be interviewed.
Detectives also need to analyse electronic devices and financial transactions, trace suspected proceeds and identify other people who may have participated in the scheme.
The DCI opposed the suspects’ release, saying they could interfere with witnesses, contact suspected accomplices or destroy evidence. Police added that several people believed to be connected to the suspected network are still being sought.
The court allowed the five-day detention to give detectives more time to advance the investigation, which the DCI described as complex due to the number of complainants, financial institutions, mobile network operators and large volumes of electronic and financial data involved.
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