How Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo became victim of sim swap
By Nyaboga KiageDetails of how Nyamira Governor Mr. Amos Nyaribo fell victim to a sim swap syndicate can now be revealed.
In a statement by his communication team, Governor Nyaribo asked members of the public to ignore the people who were using his phone number and WhatsApp number to ask for funds.
“I urge the public to ignore messages soliciting for cash from a number through text messages and WhatsApp that is associated with my cell phone number,” part of a statement released by the governor read.
He said officers attached to the National Police Service (NPS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) were investigating the matter.
Governor Nyaribo’s attack comes barely days after another political leader from the vast Rift Valley region was also defrauded of his cash.
Sim swapping involves the replacement of a sim card with or without the consent of the owner. The method is commonly used by fraud suspects who end up sending money from the sim cards to their accounts.
In December 2022, the Rift Valley Member of Parliament lost Sh941,000 to a syndicate that operates within Mulot.
A statement by the DCI revealed how the suspects renewed the phone number of the political leader and they used it to gain access into his personal bank account.
Detectives attached to the Bank Fraud Unit say that the suspects then went ahead and emptied the account in a span of six hours at a time when the politician was out of the country on official duties.
The group is also suspected to have conned Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) boss Francis Atwoli.
The suspect known as Mr David Mutai was released on Friday, January 6, 2023 on a Sh300,000 cash bail.
According to the affidavit, the suspect’s life will be in danger should he be released by the court. He said that when the suspect was arrested in Kericho County an angry mob almost lynched him.
Mr Felix Kiprono and Mr Philip Muhizi who are the lawyers representing the suspect opposed the application saying the investigating officers had indicated clearly what they want to do during the seven days.