A significant breakthrough for Kenyan detectives has led to the apprehension of 11 suspects. The suspects are linked to a high-level motor vehicle registration fraud within the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). This operation comes following a thorough system audit of the NTSA Transport Integrated Management System (TIMS), which raised suspicions of illicit activities by some NTSA officials.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the lead suspect, identified as Jimmy Kibet Wayans, was captured at a residence in Lavington. The suspect is alleged to operate a suspicious account that had infiltrated the TIMS system to illegally register vehicles.
Disturbingly, DCI investigations revealed that in just two months, March and April, 47 vehicles had their chassis numbers changed, and 54 were fraudulently added to the system. This points to the extensive scale of the fraud orchestrated by the culprits.
Moreover, the main suspect, who is not an NTSA employee, had significant back office access and controlled several fictitious user accounts within the NTSA system. The discovery was made by Cybercrime detectives based at the National Forensics Laboratory.
Detectives are now delving into how a deactivated account, belonging to a former ICT officer at NTSA, was reactivated and utilized for back office transactions months after the officer’s resignation in July 2022.
NTSA,KRA Officials Implicated in TIMS Fraud
The investigation has also implicated three NTSA employees, Anthony Waithaka, David Migwi, and David Kimaren, in the criminal network. The web extends to officials from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). Already, one suspect identified as Boniface Njoroge of KRA is in custody.
DCI are working to apprehend all those involved in this high-level fraud.
Logbook Fraud
Previously, it was revealed how corrupt individuals within the motor vehicle registration body collaborated with unscrupulous staff from microfinance institutions and street brokers to engage in fraudulent activities.
This included registering one motor vehicle registration number and logbook to multiple vehicles. Thereafter, the logbooks were used to secure loans from financial institutions. Legitimate logbook owners often found themselves facing auctioneers seeking to impound and sell their vehicles. This was due to loans they knew nothing of.
In a separate incident, two individuals were apprehended at a cyber Cafe in Ngara with 450 genuine motor vehicle logbooks. Investigations uncovered an operation where logbook applications were expedited with inside assistance at NTSA. Unfortunately, this happened while others waited for months for their documents.
This is another huge bust by DCI after recently arresting Sim Swap fraudsters.
