A man accused of hacking into Jambo Pay systems and fraudulently transferring over Sh 49 million will remain in custody for another seven days to allow police to conclude investigations.
Senior Principal Magistrate Ben-Mark Ekhubi partly allowed the application by the state to detain Joseph Momanyi for the seven days and not 10 days as sought in the application.
In the miscellaneous application, the police wanted orders to detain him for 10 days.
The court heard that the matter was reported by Web Tribe Limited, a company incorporated in Kenya that provides alternative payment methods for local and global merchants.
According to the complainant, on diverse dates between 19th and 23rd July 2024, its financial system (JamboPay Client portal) was breached by unknown unauthorized person(s) who illegally gained access to the system and transferred approximately Sh 49,095,968 from the account to Safaricom mobile numbers (M-Pesa Wallets), several bank accounts and Till Numbers.
Investigating officer Inspector Nickson Ngigi told the court that after gaining access to the Jambo Pay Client Portal through the legitimate customer profiles of; Korapay, Fincra and Jambo Pay transaction merchant account, the system attacker changed and disabled the client’s mobile numbers that received transaction notification (OTP) and thereby effected the transactions.
“The funds were transferred to various Safaricom M-Pesa accounts, M-Pesa Till numbers and several Bank accounts,” Inspector Ngigi said.
Ngigi added that investigations have established that Momanyi actively facilitated the commission of the offense by procuring, recruiting individuals to operate, and/or purchasing the subject bank accounts, thereby enabling the illicit transfer of funds.
According to him, Momanyi has demonstrated a pattern of deliberate evasion, utilizing mobile numbers registered in the names of other individuals, and using WhatsApp calls which constitute a clear intent to evade detection and apprehension.
The court heard that, acting on credible intelligence, Momanyi was arrested on the night of the 12th April 2025 and a search of his residence within Kahawa West resulted in the recovery of numerous assorted SIM cards registered under various individuals as well as multiple mobile phones and a laptop.
Ngigi also told the court that after interrogation, the respondent revealed that he doesn’t work alone adding that he agreed to assist investigators in tracing and arresting his accomplices.
After considering the application by the state and the grounds submitted, the magistrate ruled that the respondent be detained at Muthaiga Police Station for seven days.
