The eight Kenyans who were arrested On October 25, 2019 over cyber fraud attempted on Equity Bank alongside, one Ugandan and 11 Rwandese by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) have been named.
All of eight Kenyans are Kikuyus; Samuel Wachira Nyuguto, Eric Dickson Njagi Mutegi, Dedan Muchoki Muriuki, Godfrey Gachiri Githinji, Reuben Kirongothi Mwangi, Steve Maina Wambugu, Erickson Macharia Kinyua and Damaris Njeri Kamau.
The Rwandans in custody are Eric Ngabitsinze, Julius Kayitana, Fabric Amini, Robert Kagabo, Seth Kabera, Mediatrice Uwingeneye, David Rutaboba, Jean Claude Dukundimana, Eliah Shyaka, Jean Claude Nkuranga and Serah Kankunda while the Ugandan has been identified as John Kibengo.
During their arrest, the Rwandan authorities said their case file had been compiled and submitted to the country’s Prosecution team for further direction. They also noted the suspects fled to Rwanda after defrauding Equity Bank both in Kenya and Uganda.
Financial institutions in Kenya have recently become a soft targets for cyber criminals, with police records showing that they lost about Sh17 billion to the fraudsters in 2016, up from Sh14 billion in 2015.
In January, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) issued arrest warrants for 130 people in connection with electronic fraud by hacking into commercial bank systems.
