State opposes bail for SIM card swap fraud suspect

The Director of Public Prosecutions has opposed a bail plea by a man accused of defrauding two Members of Parliament (MPs) over Sh700,00 through SIM swap scam.

Bonface Kipngetich Kirui (pictured) charged on Monday for swapping the Safaricom sim cards of Marakwet West MP Timothy Toroitich and his Matungulu counterpart MP Stephen Mule leaving their accounts dry.

In addition he used their sim cards to borrow loans from various mobile money lending apps of the two politicians without their knowledge.

Through a prosecuting counsel Judy Koech, the DPP vehemently opposed the bail application by Kirui claiming he is a serial offender with several pending cases of similar nature.

“I urge this court to decline the bail plea by the accused since he committed this offence while out on bond in several other matters and we are apprehensive he will continue committing the same offence while granted bail,” Koech told Milimani Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe.

Koech told the court the accused has turned the court as a familiar ground of seeking his freedom when he commits the offences.

“Releasing him now will be a mockery to justice, deny him bond so that he can conclude his cases while coming from prison custody,“ the Prosecutor said.

Koech further told the court that Kirui is currently under investigation by various investigating agencies over other offences of fraudulently acquired money from accounts belonging to other unsuspecting customers on mobile banking platforms.

The court heard that accused person is a member of a syndicate that operates in Mulot, Bomet county which has left several Kenya’s including top politicians and senior government officers including police officers

The Prosecution urged the court to take judicial notice that a senior police officer has also fallen victim of the syndicate which emptied his accounts dry last year.