Two charged with theft of Sh300m

Reuben Tum in the dock at a Milimani court where he was charged with stealing 156,000.00 from Chase bank and electronic fraud of 12,504,000,Hen was released on a 500,000 shillings cash bail. [George Njunge / Standard]

Two of 130 suspects wanted in connection with the hacking of commercial bank systems have been charged with the loss of over Sh300 million from Family and Chase Banks.

Martin Machere Karuri and Reuben Tum yesterday appeared before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi and denied several counts of stealing, electronic fraud, handling stolen property and conspiracy to steal.

The charge against Machere stated that on January 1, 2019 and January 20, 2019, jointly with others not before the court, he conspired to steal from Family Bank Sh294,800,003 million.

The court heard that on diverse dates between January 1, 2019 and January 20, 2019 at an unknown place, he conspired with others to steal from Family Bank Sh294,800,003.

Machere, in the fourth count, was accused of altering data in a Family Bank core banking system by interfering with 22 clients’ prepaid card balances, thereby causing loss of Sh294,800,003.

He was also charged in another count with stealing Sh5 million from Family Bank on January 19, 2019 at an unknown place in the country.

On the night of January 19, 2019, the court was informed, he dishonestly withdrew from his bank account Sh807,684, knowing that it was stolen money.

Tum was accused that on June 12, 2018 and July 8, 2018, he fraudulently altered data in a Chase Bank core banking system by interfering with 43 clients’ account balances, causing loss of Sh12,504,000.

Martin Machere in the dock at a Milimani court . He was charge with stealing 5,000,000 and conspiracy to steal 294, 800,003 the property of Family Bank. [George Njunge / Standard]

Unknown place

He was charged with stealing Sh156,000 from Chase Bank on July 8, 2018 at unknown place in the country.

In the second count, Tum was said to have withdrawn Sh105,000 through ATM and M-Pesa on July 8, 2018, knowing it to be stolen.

He was also accused of conspiracy to steal Sh12,504,000 from Chase Bank on diverse dates between June 1, 2018 and July 8, 2018.

On June 12, 2018 and July 8, 2018, Tum allegedly fraudulently altered data in a Chase Bank core banking system and affected 43 clients’ account balances, causing loss of Sh12,504,000.

Tum said he had cooperated with investigation officers and that he has been taking care of his young family in Nairobi.

Machere was released on Sh1 million cash bail while Tum was released on Sh500,000 bond or a cash bail of Sh300,000.