- DCI detectives arrested Amos Ochieng at his hideout in Dandora on October 23, 2026, following a manhunt over an erroneous bank transfer
- Ochieng withdrew KSh 150,000 in three instalments before his bank blocked the remaining balance
- The suspect pleaded guilty to five counts at the JKIA Senior Principal Magistrate's Court and awaits sentencing
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A Dandora resident has been convicted on five counts after pleading guilty to retaining and spending KSh 250,000 that was mistakenly deposited into his bank account, with sentencing set for November 17, 2026.
Source: Twitter
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced the development on Monday, October 26, 2026, detailing how the case unfolded following a complaint over an erroneous bank transfer.
How the erroneous transfer unfolded
On September 4, 2026, the complainant accidentally sent KSh 250,000 to a bank account belonging to Amos Ochieng instead of the intended recipient.
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Rather than reporting the unexpected credit and initiating a reversal through his bank, Ochieng proceeded to withdraw a portion of the funds.
"What should have been a straightforward financial transaction instead set the stage for a criminal investigation after the money landed in the wrong hands," DCI said.
Detectives from Wilson Airport responded to the complaint and sought a court order, JKIA Miscellaneous Criminal Application No. E184 of 2026, to investigate the recipient's account.
The probe revealed that Ochieng had made three separate withdrawals totalling KSh 150,000 before the bank intervened and froze the remaining balance.
Following the findings, detectives launched a manhunt for Ochieng. He was traced and arrested on October 23, 2026, at a hideout near Total Petrol Station in Dandora.
Conviction and sentencing date
Ochieng appeared before the Senior Principal Magistrate's Court at JKIA on October 26, 2026, facing one count of intentional withholding of an electronic payment delivered erroneously, alongside four related counts.
He pleaded guilty to all five charges and was convicted on the same day.
"The suspect pleaded guilty to all five counts and was convicted accordingly. He remains in custody as he awaits sentencing on November 17, 2026," DCI said.
The DCI used the case to issue a public warning, citing Section 35 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, which criminalises the deliberate retention of money received in error through electronic means.
The agency urged anyone who receives an unexpected credit to notify their bank immediately and follow the official reversal process, adding that receiving such funds does not authorise their use.
Man arrested for allegedly spending KSh 6.7m accidentally sent to him
In related news, a Nairobi man was arrested for allegedly spending KSh 6.7 million mistakenly deposited into his account.
The transfer error occurred during a batch of 74 payments, and the suspect now faces cybercrime and money laundering charges.
The funds included a legitimate KSh 72,000 rent payment. Detectives say the company sought to recover the money after it had been spent.
Source: TUKO.co.ke