Four men face 12 new charges in fraudulent SIM swap of former OCS Talaam
The accused now face 12 counts, including conspiracy to commit a felony, computer fraud, identity theft, and possession and use of multiple national identity cards.
Four men have been charged anew over the fraudulent replacement of a SIM card belonging to former Central Police OCS Samson Kiprotich Taalam, in a case prosecutors say involved theft, identity misuse, and the unlawful access of M-Pesa funds.
The accused, Brian Ronoh Kiprotich, Amos Nzomo Kimanzi, James Mutemi Munyithya, and Dennis Masavi Musimi now face 12 counts, including conspiracy to commit a felony, computer fraud, identity theft, and possession and use of multiple national identity cards.
According to the charge sheet, the men conspired between June 16 and 19, 2025, to fraudulently replace Taalam’s Safaricom SIM card and use it to solicit money unlawfully from members of the public.
Prosecutors allege that Kiprotich later accessed Taalam’s M-Pesa account and withdrew funds using confidential PINs.
The court heard that Kiprotich was arrested on July 20, 2025, at Embakasi Pipeline while in possession of at least seven identity cards, including those belonging to Elisha Siele, Robert Mwinzi Mulango, Stephen Wambua Mutheki, Nzuva Masila, Geoffrey Kipkoech Rono, Nicholas Ouma Ouma, and Patrick Agesa Muhonja.
Separately, Munyithya is accused of using co-accused Kimanzi’s identity card to register a mobile phone line and activate a handset connected to the alleged fraud.
During the bail hearing, lawyer Danstan Omari, representing Taalam, urged the court to revoke earlier bond terms granted by magistrate Dolphina Alego, citing the public risk if the accused were released.
“This is the first time an exhibit in the hands of IPOA has been accessed in a manner we cannot comprehend,” Omari said.
“If these accused are released, many Kenyans are likely to suffer. Our monies are not safe with such people roaming free,” he added.
Omari further requested a pre-bail report, highlighting the seriousness of the offences and ongoing police efforts to trace additional suspects.
Defense lawyers, however, opposed the move, insisting that bail is a constitutional right.
“The right to bail is not absolute, but no compelling reasons have been given to limit it,” counsel for the accused argued, urging the court to maintain the current bond terms.
The magistrate directed that the bail issue be revisited after receiving the pre-bail report, before adjourning the case.
