Eight Charged with Stealing Sh449 Million from NCBA Bank Through Fuliza

Eight suspects were on Monday charged with stealing Sh449.6 million from NCBA Bank Plc through the MPesa overdraft facility, Fuliza.

Peter Gitahi Wambui, Isaac Kipkemoi, Moses Rono, Collins Kipyego, Maxwell Njamba, Edwin Kipkorir, Gideon Kipkirui and Gideon Kipkoech appeared before a Nairobi court, where they denied a total of 13 counts.

The charges include stealing, conspiracy to steal, engaging in organized criminal activities, and possession of stolen property including identity cards and motor vehicles.

The charge sheet read that the accused persons jointly with others not before the court, stole Sh449,647,200 from NCBA Bank between January 1st and July 4th, 2022.

The court heard that the accused were arrested in Nakuru and Kitale for stealing the money with no intention of repaying.

Gitahi, who was arrested in Kitale, was also found in possession of 14 Safaricom registering machines (MoBiGo) and 10 identity cards.

Kipkemoi was found in possession of 760 SIM cards, Njamba had 2,014, while Kipkorir had 281 SIM cards, which police said were for purposes of stealing.

While seeking to have the suspects detained for 14 days, the prosecution told the court that over 123,000 mobile phone subscribers joined Fuliza and borrowed loans between January and July 2022 and later switched off their SIM cards.

But the accused persons’ attorney opposed the application and urged the court to free them on bond because the offenses are bailable. He further submitted that most of the accused persons are students and have no intention of escaping after being freed.

The court will make a ruling on their bail application on February 15th.