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Detectives have arrested a man accused of spending Ksh6.7 million that was mistakenly deposited into his bank account following an error during the processing of electronic payments.
Detectives have arrested a man accused of spending Ksh6.7 million that was mistakenly deposited into his bank account following an error during the processing of electronic payments.
In a statement on Sunday, October 25, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspect, Dickson Yiaile Sitei, was apprehended on Saturday, October 24, along Lantana Road in Westlands, Nairobi.
The agency said detectives from the Banking Fraud Investigation Unit (BFIU) arrested Sitei over allegations that he spent money that had been erroneously credited to his account.
"Detectives from the Banking Fraud Investigation Unit (BFIU) have arrested a suspect accused of brazenly spending over Ksh6.7 million that was mistakenly credited to his bank account," the statement read.
According to the DCI, the incident dates back to November 18, 2025, when a company was processing 74 electronic payments, including rent owed to Sitei for the company's shop in Suswa.
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The rent payment amounted to Ksh72,000, but a processing error resulted in an additional Ksh6.7 million intended for another company being deposited into his account.
"But an error during processing led to a monumental blunder: both the rent and a staggering Sh6,744,354 intended for another company found their way into Sitei's bank account," the statement added.
The DCI alleged that the company later sought to recover the money after discovering the error, but Sitei spent the excess funds instead of returning them.
"When the company sought to reclaim its funds, Sitei didn’t just acknowledge the windfall; he allegedly spent the excess cash with no remorse," the statement further read.
The DCI said the decision prompted an investigation by detectives, who subsequently forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review and directions on the charges.
Following a review of the evidence, the ODPP directed that Sitei face charges relating to the intentional withholding of an erroneously delivered payment and money laundering.
"Upon meticulous review, the ODPP instructed that Sitei be charged with the following offences: Intentional Withholding of Erroneously Delivered Payment, in contravention of Section 35 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, No. 5 of 2018, and Money Laundering, contrary to Section 3(b)(1) as read with Section 16(1)(a) of the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Act, Cap 59A," the statement further read.
Sitei remained in custody undergoing processing as he awaited arraignment in court.
The DCI warned members of the public against spending money mistakenly deposited into their accounts, noting that recipients were legally required to return such funds.
"The DCI warns that money mistakenly credited to your account does not become yours simply because it is within your reach. The law demands its return, and those who deliberately withhold and spend such funds will face the full force of the law," the statement concluded.
This comes days after detectives arrested a former Credit Control Officer over the suspected theft of Ksh89,579,274 from his former employer.
Detectives attached to the DCI's Banking Fraud Investigations Unit (BFIU) mounted a pursuit of the suspect, Bernard Kariuki Ngugi, after an investigation into alleged insider fraud, digital manipulation and suspicious financial transactions
BFIU officers established that the suspect diverted millions of shillings to three firms which had not done any business with the insurance firm.
"It was established that Ksh35.27 million was channelled through Auris General Merchants Ltd, Ksh32.68 million through Donbitz Global Limited and a further Ksh21.63 million through Pedram Global Limited.
"The three entities, according to investigators, had no legitimate business relationship with the insurance company and were not entitled to receive the payments, raising red flags over how they found their way into the company’s payment system," the statement read.
The DCI found that the withdrawals and transfers were made in circumstances designed to obscure the origin and movement of the funds.
