A 21-year-old Moi University student has found herself in legal trouble after being accused of allegedly hacking into a man’s bank account and transferring nearly half a million shillings into an account reportedly registered in her name.
The university student, identified as Purity Moraa Mokaya, appeared before an Eldoret court, where she was charged with three offences relating to computer fraud and the alleged handling of money suspected to have been obtained through criminal activities.
According to the prosecution, Mokaya allegedly worked alongside unidentified individuals to gain unauthorised access to an Absa Bank account belonging to Mark Juma Odhiambo.
Investigators claimed that after accessing the complainant’s account without his permission, KSh499,800 was transferred to an I&M Bank account allegedly operated by the 21-year-old student.
The alleged transaction raised questions about how the money was accessed and transferred, with prosecutors seeking to establish the circumstances surrounding the movement of the funds.
Mokaya, who is reportedly a final-year Education student at Moi University, appeared before Principal Magistrate Kimani Mukabi, where she denied all three charges.
The charges were brought under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, which provides a legal framework for dealing with offences involving unauthorised access to computer systems and other forms of cybercrime.
Among the accusations against her was unauthorised access to a computer system contrary to Section 14(1) of the Act.
She was also accused of accessing a computer system with the intention of committing another offence, as well as receiving money suspected to have originated from criminal activities under Section 15(1).
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the student denied wrongdoing when the charges were read to her. She attended the court proceedings without a lawyer.
During the hearing, the prosecution informed the magistrate that Mokaya was also facing similar computer misuse allegations in other courts. However, those separate cases were yet to be heard and determined.
The prosecution further told the court that it had lined up five witnesses who would testify as the case progresses.
Among those expected to appear is the complainant, Mark Juma Odhiambo, whose bank account was allegedly accessed without authorisation.
Another key witness is Police Constable Edwin Mukholi, a Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer based in Eldoret who is handling investigations into the matter.
When given an opportunity to address the court, Mokaya requested favourable bail terms, assuring the magistrate that she would attend all scheduled hearings.
However, Principal Magistrate Kimani Mukabi declined to grant her request for cash bail and instead released her on a bond of KSh500,000 with one surety.
The case is expected to proceed as the prosecution prepares to present its witnesses and evidence in support of the allegations.
For the young university student, the court proceedings come at a critical point in her academic journey, as she is reportedly in her final year of studies.
The allegations have also drawn attention to the growing legal consequences associated with cybercrime, particularly offences involving unauthorised access to financial accounts and electronic transfers.
Under Kenyan law, however, being charged does not amount to being guilty. Mokaya remains presumed innocent until the prosecution proves the allegations against her in court.
