Man in Sh. 1.5 billion money heist at Equity Bank detained for 10 days
John Karima Wainaina, the suspect who has been detained for 10 days.
John Karima Wainaina, a key suspect in the Sh1.49 billion Equity Bank heist, was arrested on November 9 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport upon returning from China, where he had fled in July. The arrest was facilitated by the DCI's Banking Fraud Investigation Unit and NIS through phone and social media surveillance.
It links Wainaina to an organized group that allegedly recruited Equity Bank manager David Machiri Kimani to process over 40 fraudulent transactions using his credentials at the Group Processing Center's Salary Processing Unit. The sophisticated scheme, which operated undetected from June 1, involved creating fictitious corresponding credits to legitimize 47 withdrawals from the payroll account.
Funds were quickly transferred to multiple accounts across different banks.
The case has taken several dramatic turns, including the disappearance of Machiri after his initial arrest, with his lawyers claiming he was abducted from his home in Thogoto, Kiambu County, though sources indicate he is now in police custody with health issues.
The court has granted authorities 10 days to detain Wainaina at Kileleshwa Police Station while they examine CCTV footage, emails, and other electronic evidence linking him to the crime. The heist has prompted Equity Bank to implement enhanced security protocols and triggered a broader industry-wide review of internal controls, particularly in salary processing units where large transactions are routine.
