University Student in Ksh.11 Million Betika Cyber Fraud Case Released on Bond
A Nairobi court has freed a university student accused of participating in a Ksh.11 million cyber fraud scheme targeting Betika, one of Kenya’s leading betting firms.
The suspect, Seth Mwabe Okwanyo, was being investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after being linked to a sophisticated digital fraud operation designed to siphon money from the betting platform.
During the ruling, Magistrate Ben Mark Ekubi dismissed an application by the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) seeking to hold the student in custody for further interrogation. The magistrate ruled that investigators had not provided sufficient grounds to justify continued detention.
Instead, Okwanyo was released on a Ksh.500,000 bond with strict conditions.
“Do not in any way interfere with the investigations. It is evident that the suspect has control of what the investigators want to probe. I therefore direct that he appears before the investigating officer on a weekly basis,” the magistrate ordered.
The prosecution insists that the student is connected to the multi-million cybercrime case, but the court emphasized that ongoing investigations must be conducted lawfully without unnecessary detention.
The case remains under active investigation, with the student warned against interfering with witnesses, tampering with evidence, or obstructing the probe.
