UoN student arrested over plan to extort money from MPs
The DCI reported on June 5, 2019 that it had arrested University of Nairobi student Alex Anyolo for allegedly threatening MPs in plan to defraud them. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reported this via Twitter, saying the 30-year-old master's programme student was apprehended by detectives from its headquarters.
- The DCI said it confiscated several assorted SIM cards, including one that was used to send the messages, handsets and identity cards.
- In April 2018, a man named Benson Wazir Chacha was detained at Muthaiga Police Station on the accusation of cyberbullying and extorting money from MPs.
A University of Nairobi students was arrested on Wednesday on allegations of sending threatening to members of parliament with the intention of extorting money from them.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reported this via Twitter, saying the 30-year-old masters programme student was apprehended by detectives from its headquarters.
The DCI said the arrest followed a complaint by Njoro MP Charity Kathambi Chepkwony.
"Mr Alex Anyolo had been sending threatening messages to the complainant and five other MPs with intent to extort," the directorate tweeted.
"The suspect, who had already received money from another member of Parliament, admitted to sending the messages with intent to extort money."
SIM CARDS
In a statement, DCI boss George Kinoti said the suspect had, on several occasions, sent messages to Mrs Chepkwony, threatening her life and attempting to defraud her.
“We acted swiftly to arrest the suspect. He is being interrogated [for purposes of] further investigations," Mr Kinoti said.
In a phone interview with the Nation, the MP said, “I have been living in fear since l started receiving the threatening messages from two strange numbers. Last week l decided to report the matter to the DCI. l am glad the suspect to help police reveal who is after my life."
She further claimed unknown people had been trailing her.
The DCI said it confiscated several assorted SIM cards, including one that was used to send the messages.
Police also recovered handsets and identity cards from Mr Anyolo, which they will use in their investigation.
SIMILAR CASE
In April 2018, a man named Benson Wazir Chacha was detained at Muthaiga Police Station on the accusation of cyberbullying and extorting money from MPs.
Mr Chacha was accused of soliciting money from MPs while disguised as Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege.
So smart was he that he managed to convince National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi to send him Sh300,000.
Other victims were former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, who sent Sh20,000, and Cabinet secretaries Eugene Wamalwa, Peter Munya, Margaret Kobia and Sicily Kariuki.
Mr Chacha was later released on a cash bail of Sh1 million amid further investigations.
