Eight suspects arrested over their alleged involvement in a half a billion shillings Safaricom Fuliza loan theft syndicate were on Monday, February 13, charged with the offence before Milimani Law Courts.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi, the suspects namely Peter Gitahi Wambui, Isaac Kipkemoi, Gideon Rono, Moses Rono, Collins Kipyegon, Maxwell Njamba, Edwin Kipkorir, Gideon and Gidein Kipkech Kirui denied the 13 fraud charges among them conspiracy to commit a felony namely theft and being in possession of proceeds of crime namely motor vehicles.
The court heard that the eight suspects through a digital borrowing platform popularly known as Fuliza registered hundreds of SIM cards and took loans amounting to Ksh449,647.200 with no intention of repaying the money between January 1, 2022, and July 4, 2022, at an unknown place in the Republic of Kenya.
The prosecution further claims that the accused persons would then transfer the money from the mobile phones to various bank accounts and mobile banking platforms and then switch off the SIM cards.
It is said that over 123,000 mobile phone subscribers joined Fuliza and borrowed loans and thereafter switched off their SIM cards, making it difficult to reach them.
After denying the charges levelled against them, the prosecution objected to their release on grounds they will interfere with witnesses and are a flight risk.
But the accused persons through lawyers Felix Kiprono and Ham Lagat urged the court to release them on reasonable bail terms, stating that they are willing to abide by all conditions set by the court.
The magistrate, however, deferred her ruling on whether to release them on bond until Wednesday.
The police officers seized seven laptops, seven routers, 40 mobile phones, over 200 Safaricom agent lines, over 3,000 Safaricom lines, 10 identity cards, 14 Safaricom registering machines (MoBiGo), and assorted electronic and motor vehicles.
detectives said they believe that the suspects are among mobile bank syndicates terrorising financial institutions.
They suspect that their accomplices are hiding in Kericho, Bomet, Narok and Ol Kalou areas, as some fled during the raids.
