Nairobi News

A 21-year-old tout who allegedly stole a mobile phone from a motorist along Jogoo Road in Nairobi and transferred Sh160,000 from her M-Pesa account has charged with theft contrary to section 268 (1) of the penal code.

Anthony Nam Olang is accused of stealing Ms Tabitha Auma’s phone worth Sh54,000 on May 11, 2023 before transferring Sh160,000 from her M-Pesa account.

Ms Auma was driving slowly in a traffic jam towards Donholm Estate when a pedestrian, who was in company of two others, hit her car’s side mirror and informed her that her car was leaking. She opened the windows and moved to check on the said leakage.

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While she was inspecting her car, one of the three men snatched her phone and ran away. She realized that the pedestrian who hit her car’s side mirror intended to distract her attention to allow accomplices to steal from her.

Ms Auma went home and used another mobile phone to call Safaricom customer care to seek help in blocking the stolen phone.

It was then that she established that Sh160,000 had been transferred from her M-Pesa account to several mobile phone numbers, including one registered to Mr Olang.

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Ms Auma reported the matter at Buruburu Police Station leading to the arrest of Mr Olang. His two accomplices who also received the stolen cash are still being sought by the police.

The accused denied the charges before Senior Principal magistrate Mary Njagi of the Makadara Law Courts and was granted a bond of Sh150,000. Hearing of the case will start on November 6, 2023.

Police have listed the M-Pesa transactions’ script showing the money transfer from Ms Auma’s Mpesa account to that of Mr Olang and his accomplices as exhibits in the case.

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