Two Chinese and six Kenyans, among them a university student, were on Thursday charged with registering 30,000 sim cards during a recent police bust.
The suspects were Zhou Danni, Xiao Bi, Maureen Wambui Chege, Wilfred Kimutai Rutto, Joash Manyura Nyamanya, Alphonse Kibet Langat, Patrick Mwangi Wanjohi and Martin Kisangau.
They were charged with registering 30,000 phone lines using identification cards particulars of Kenyan citizens without their knowledge.
They were also indicted on counts of engaging in organised criminal activities and providing false information to a telecommunications operator during the Sim registration process contrary to the Communications Act.
The court, through their defense lawyer, was urged to give them reasonable bail terms as they would turn up for trial.
[caption caption="Customers at a shop in Nakuru."]
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The accused will be remanded in prison custody until the hearing of their case on August 20, with Senior resident magistrate Hellen Onkwani ruling on their plea bargain at a later date.
Their release on bond was unopposed by the prosecutor but instead asked the court to order the Chinese nationals to surrender their travel documents.
Less than two weeks ago, four suspects linked to cybercrimes and Sim swap fraud were arrested in Eldoret where 20,000 Sim cards, 300 mobile phones and two laptops were recovered.
It was revealed that suspects use data from mobile phone companies, the electoral agency and the department of registration of persons to get details they use to commit the said crimes.
The Communications Authority of Kenya recently warned mobile phone users against disclosing personal identification information (PIN) to third parties.
[caption caption="Communications Authority of Kenya Director General Francis Wangusi."]
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