Sim-swap suspect held for eight days
By Nancy.Gitonga, January 10, 2022
A prime suspect behind the alleged theft of Sh600,000 from Kasarani Officer Commanding Police Division Peter Mwanzo through Sim-swap will spend another eight more days in custody pending more investigations.
Milimani Law Court Magistrate Wandia Nyamu granted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ request to have Gideon Mark locked up to enable them finalise probe into allegations that he conned Mwanzo and other unsuspecting people millions of shillings through Sim-swap scam.
“A custodial order is hereby issued for Mark to be detained at Kasarani Police Station in Nairobi for eight days to enable police complete investigations on the offenses stated,” Wandia ordered.
Suspect is alleged to have on diverse dates between January 4 and 5 unlawfully swapped Mwanzo’s Safaricom line and used it to fraudulently transfer a sum of Sh600,000 from his Equity Bank account.
In an affidavit filed in court, the DCI, through Corporal Kapario Lekakeny sought to be allowed to continue holding Mark, saying investigations involved weighty issues, which require ample time as police are expected to travel to Bomet to recover the money.
Court heard that Mark is believed to belong to a syndicate operating from Mulot within Bomet county which is defrauding members of the public using mobile money platforms.