The family of Seth Mwabe, a university dropout accused of hacking a betting firm and stealing Sh11.4 million, have thanked the police for protecting their son while he was in police custody.
Speaking at their home in Wasimbete Ward, Suna West Sub-County, Migori, while welcoming him back home on Thursday night, his father, Pastor Kennedy Mwabe, said that he received the information that his son was trending in the news while attending church matters.
Seth Mwabe, a 26-year-old Meru University IT dropout, was released on an Sh500,000 bond on September 3, after being accused of hacking into a major betting firm’s system and stealing Sh11.4 million.
The court ruled that detectives failed to provide adequate grounds to continue holding the suspect, who was arrested at his apartment in Tatu City, Kiambu County, on August 30 by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
While granting bond, Magistrate Ben Mark Ekubi cautioned Mwabe against interfering with the ongoing probe into the high-profile cyber fraud case.
According to the DCI report, the betting firm made a complaint in July, where the Banking Fraud Unit detectives launched an investigation and established that the fraud was done through bypassing the payment service provider’s security systems.
Mwabe, who describes himself as a cybersecurity engineer and consultant, had told investigators that part of his expertise involves testing vulnerabilities in payment systems.
His father said that he was shocked at what the police seized in Mwabe’s house, labelling his son as a shy and quiet person who does not socialise much.
On August 30 this year, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit uncovered a makeshift computer lab in Mwabe’s two-bedroom apartment in Tatu City, complete with advanced servers, laptops, a money-counting machine and a safe.
He thanked the Capitol Hill police station for receiving his son and treating him humanely. He also thanked Gen Zs for morally supporting Mwabe, as well as the media and the court for playing their part in ensuring his son returned home safely.
Philip Mwabe, Seth’s uncle, said that they would counsel Seth to ensure he is integrated well in society, urging the State to tap into his knowledge rather than dwelling so much on negativity.
By Makokha Khaoya
