A Nairobi businessman was on Monday, December 14, charged after he was accused of stealing money from a bank account of a dead person.
A report by Nation indicated that the trader identified as Joseph Githinji Mutai reportedly conspired with other individuals to steal from the account held in the name of Peter Kaniah Kariuki.
Mutai is alleged to have presented himself as Kariuki with the intention of defrauding the bank in Githurai Ksh 178,608.
The incident took place on Monday, December 7.
The report further revealed that the suspect provided the ID card information of the deceased before withdrawing the money.
He later returned and attempted to make a further withdrawal of Ksh150,000 from the same account before he was arrested.
During his arraignment, the suspect was informed that facing three counts including personation, uttering a document with intent to defraud, and attempted stealing.
Mutai is said to have pulled off the stint after duping the bank's regional operations officer.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Barnard Ochoi at Milimani law courts, Mutai pleaded not guilty to all the charges labelled against him.
He was later released on a Ksh 300,000 bond and an alternative cash bail of Ksh 100,000.
The case is set for mention on Thursday, December 17, 2020.
Banking fraud offenses appear to be on the rise across the country after the DCI made several arrests including a group of university students.
Towards the end of October, two Information and Technology (IT) students from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) were arrested after allegedly hacking a bank and attempting to steal Ksh 215.1 million shillings.
On Monday, October 26, the duo (one male and female) were charged with theft and conspiracy to defraud one of Kenya's top banks.
The students reportedly stole Ksh 24.4 million and attempted to move another Ksh 190.7 million before the local bank caught wind of their action.
