Seth Mwabe, a 26-year-old Meru University dropout pulled off an incredible digital robbery from his two bedroom apartment in Tatu City. The news of his arrest has ignited a National debate, with some suggesting the young boy should be handed a job instead of a jail sentence. But just how did a 26-year-old Meru University dropout pull off such a daring stunt?
Seth Mwabeh had dropped out of the Meru University abandoning his IT studies. Unlike many young people, his computers weren’t for playing games and binging movies and TV shows on weekends, they were his path to wealth. Harnessing a skill set he had been sharpening from his teenage years through his short stay at the Meru University, he found a backdoor into a major betting company’s computer systems. With several keyboard taps and mouse clicks, he by passed the company’s firewalls like a ghost walking through walls.
Without setting foot in an office or touching a safe, he electronically siphoned off a staggering Sh11.4 million. The money vanished from the company’s accounts and flowed into his control. Was this his big break? Not quite. He had allegedly been doing this for years to a long list of companies who had fallen victim to his particular skill set. This was to be his biggest score yet.
ALSO READ;
CS Ogamba summoned over weaknesses in capitation disbursement
While Mwabe enjoyed his newfound millions in his two-bedroom apartment, a team of special detectives drawn from the fiery DCI’s Banking Fraud Unit had been on his heels quietly for weeks. They meticulously studied the electronic theft as they built a criminal profile of Mwabeh. Keenly following his digital path, they scanned for clues and hidden hints scouring the vastness of the internet for a ghost who left behind no fingerprints, just a digital shadow.
Eventually, Mwabe’s fortieth day came, the investigation team’s hard work finally paid off. Their investigation led them directly to Mwabe’s doorstep deep in Tatu City. As it is customary to the DCI, they quickly planned a pre-dawn raid, one that would see the arrest of Mwabeh from his hide-out.
Early on Saturday morning, the sleuths moved in to arrest their suspect. The first few knocks went unanswered as Mwabe realized there was no place left to hide or run. He opted not to unlock his door, a futile attempt that would only delay the inevitable. When he refused to open his door, the arresting officers were left with no choice but to break the door off its hinges. Once inside, 26-year-old Mwabe was quickly handcuffed bringing an end to his long reign of cybercrime.
ALSO READ;
Education paralyzed as seven-day curfew declared in parts of Nakuru amid ethnic clashes
What the detectives discovered inside the apartment was nothing short of a movie scene, a full high-tech computer laboratory. Multiple computer screens glowed, filled with lines of complex code that served as proof of the boy’s mastery in his craft. This was not the setup of a simple thief; it was the headquarters of a sophisticated cybercriminal.
Inside Mwabe’s lair, the police found several items that showed that this was not a one-time crime. This was a well-planned business operation that had been running successfully for a very long time, making millions from thin air. Apart from the computers, the police also found a money counting-machine and a heavy duty safe. After his arrest, Mwabe was taken to Capitol Hill Police Station for processing and later charged for serious computer crimes.
His case has sparked a serious national debate with some Kenyans blaming the government over youth unemployment as other say “Apewe kazi sasa”. Mwabeh’s story is a sad one of wasted skills especially at a time when the country is facing serious cybercrime. Another bright young Kenyan mind lost to the never ending get-rich-quick abyss.
By Khayoyo Ian
The writer is an IT expert.
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
