A man in his middle years residing in Keroka, Nyamira County, has been apprehended and presented before the court for allegedly swindling nuns at a convent of more than Sh.3.4 million in a suspected fraudulent scheme.
The court ruled for Edwin Ontomwa, aged 30, to be held for an additional seven days to facilitate the completion of investigations into the incident.
According to court proceedings, Ontomwa, along with accomplices, approached the nuns at Ichuni convent in Masaba South, Kisii County, purporting that they required funds to fashion a key for unlocking a purportedly special treasure box sent to them from the United States.
A senior investigator overseeing the case mentioned that two additional suspects are still being pursued, asserting Ontomwa’s association with a network of fraudsters operating across Nairobi and Migori counties.
Law enforcement officials disclosed intentions to conduct a forensic examination of the suspect’s phone as part of the investigation, also indicating the potential for cybercrime charges.
Under the Cybercrimes Act, offenses such as unauthorized access to computer systems, data interception, cyber extortion, illicit password acquisition, cyber fraud, and intangible property theft are punishable.
Ontomwa was apprehended upon his return to the convent on Tuesday evening for further cash collection, before being presented before Chief Magistrate Eunice Nyutu at Keroka Law Courts on Wednesday morning.
