Two suspected SIM swap fraudsters detained after stealing Sh589,800 from victim

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is seeking orders to detain two men suspected to be members of the infamous Mulot-based cybercrime syndicate known for SIM swap fraud.

Silas Kipkoech and Thomas Kibet were arrested in Embakasi, Nairobi, after being trailed for two months following an incident where they allegedly stole 589,800 from a victim's bank account after swapping her SIM and accessing her bank accounts.

They allegedly transferred the funds to others, but the money trail links them to various M-Pesa accounts that received the funds.

Detective Constable David Njoroge of DCI headquarters says the two are well-known fraudsters based in Mulot, Bomet County and in Embakasi.

In an affidavit filed at the Milimani law courts, Njoroge says Kipkoech and Kibet form a part of the larger syndicate that has for a long time terrorised Kenyans and foreigners in matters regarding SIM swap and theft, among other cybercrimes.

"For the past two months, the respondents (Kipkoech and Kibet) have been on the run and have shifted from one town to another where efforts to apprehend them have been futile, initially from Nairobi to Bomet, Kericho and lastly in Embakasi, Nairobi where the end game of the two was manifested and around other five suspects managed to escape after (Kibet) used a coded language through a phone call he made after he was arrested," stated Njoroge.

"The syndicate has dedicated its efforts to defrauding elderly Kenyan citizens, foreign retirees enjoying their pensions, and individuals not familiar with matters related to SIM swap fraud. It is a wide range of fraudsters from various departments, including Safaricom, as well as banking institutions within the republic."

Forensic analysis

Njoroge says the suspects' mobile phones, which were used in the crimes, are to be presented to the Cybercrime unit based at the DCI headquarters forensic lab for analysis.

The national identity cards recovered from the two suspects will also be taken to the National Registration Bureau (NRB) for verification of their legitimate owners.

DCI has written to the Cooperative Bank requesting verification of a VISA card found at the house where Kipkoech and Kibet were arrested, suspected to be stolen.

DCI is seeking clarification on whether the owner of the card has also been a victim of fraud.

DCI is yet to recover other mobile phones that are believed to be in the homes of the suspects in Nairobi, Bomet and Kericho counties.

The suspects' did they did not oppose the application to detain them in police custody for 10 days, as sought by the DCI, and Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsaringo allowed the DCI to detain them at Gingiri police station.

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