Economy

Eight charged with registering 30,000 Airtel lines illegally

sim

Two Chinese and six Kenyans, among them a university student, were Thursday charged with registering of 30,000 Airtel lines in a racket that was busted by police recently.

They were arrested in the ongoing crackdown on perpetrators of cybercrime.

The eight were detained for three more days to enable police to carry out further investigations. Those arraigned over the SIM cards registration syndicate were Zhou Danni, Xiao Bi, Maureen Wambui Chege, Wilfred Kimutai Rutto, Joash Manyura Nyamanya, Alphonse Kibet Langat, Patrick Mwangi Wanjohi and Martini Kisangau. They denied six counts of engaging in organised criminal activities and providing false information to a telecommunications operator during registration of SIM cards contrary to the Communications Act.

They were charged with registering 30,000 Airtel phone lines using identify card particulars of Kenyan Citizens without their knowledge.

The defence lawyer urged the court to give the suspects reasonable bail terms saying: “They are not flight risks, they will turn up for trial.” The case will be mentioned on August 20. The accused will be remanded in prison custody.

Senior resident magistrate Hellen Onkwani will rule on the suspects bail plea later.

A prosecutor did not oppose their release on bond but asked the court to order the Chinese nationals to deposit their travel documents in court.

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