Extradite cyber crime suspects, Kenya advised

Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi (left) and his Kenyan counterpart Amina Mohamed in Nairobi when the two signed co-operation agreements. [Photo: David Njaaga/standard]

China now wants Kenya to extradite the 37 chinese who are facing cyber crime charges.

China's Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi said the suspects were not spies but were targeting installations in Beijing.

"China has sent law enforcement officers to Kenya to assist in the investigation of this case and what we want is to repatriate these suspects so that they can undergo fair trial inside China instead of getting released in Kenya," he said.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi on Saturday, Mr Wang said available information shows the suspects used very simple methods to defraud people in China.

"Such telecommunication fraud cases have not only happened in Kenya but also other countries in the region against Chinese citizens inside our country. We believe our law enforcement departments have judicial co-operation with each other," he said.

Bilateral co-operations

Wang said his mission was to strengthen existing bilateral co-operations between Kenya and China and chart new areas that the two countries can partner in.

The 37 Chinese were part of the 77 who were arrested in Nairobi's Runda estate on December 2 when a house they had rented caught fire and killed one of them.

They were allegedly found in possession of laptops, routers and mobile phones and were believed to be preparing to instigate serious crimes. They are facing 15 years imprisonment or a Sh5 million fine if found culpable.

They are in remand where some remandees have complained that the foreigners are living a luxurious lifestyle with allegations that someone had colluded with warders "to take good care" of them.

Chinese cyber crime police are in Kenya to help investigate the activities of the suspects. The experts are expected to begin work once the Director of Public Prosecutions approves their plea to be enjoined in the investigation, officials said. Chinese ambassador to Kenya Liu Xianfa said he had met and briefed the officers.

"I had a meeting with them and they are going to work together with Kenyan police to jointly break down all forms of criminal activities. We need a safe Kenya," said Xianfa two weeks ago.

China had asked to be incorporated into the ongoing investigations in which 77 Chinese suspects are accused of being part of an international cybercrime syndicate. The Chinese embassy said such fraudsters usually target Chinese asking them to transfer money to specified accounts and claim to be officials affiliated to the Chinese government.