This archive report was first published on 18 May 2020.
On May 18, 2020, Kiambu Senior Resident Magistrate Grace Omodho granted a 10-day detention order to Constable Mohammed Amin to investigate three university students suspected of electronic fraud.
The students, Kevin Munga Oroko, Ian Aundo Kinanga, and Jefferson B. Asiago, were arrested on May 14, 2020, at their residence in Highpoint Estate, Juja Sub-County, Kiambu County, after a team of cyber-crime investigators received an intelligence report about their alleged criminal activities.
During the search, the investigators recovered over 1,000 assorted sim cards, laptops, and identity cards of unknown people, which the students could not satisfactorily explain.
Constable Amin told the court that he intended to access cyber reports from the electronic gadgets, get a report from the service providers regarding the sim cards' registration, and also the bank accounts' details of all the stolen ID cards recovered in their possession.
The investigating officer attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation, Serious Crime Unit (cyber investigations), further explained that physical analysis of the gadgets showed messages and WhatsApp chats of how the suspects made money from unsuspecting members of the public and sent it through bitcoins to conceal their tracks.
The students' case will be mentioned on May 25, 2020, when they will either be released or be charged with the offence of Electronic Fraud under section 84B of the communication and Information Act.
