Kenya's DTB Bank Accused of Aiding Terrorism

Kenyan authorities are investigating Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) over claims of aiding terrorism.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji says the lender has been found to have carried out suspicious transactions linked to terrorism.

Speaking when he appeared before MPs on Monday, Haji said that initial investigations reveal the bank was being used in aiding and abetting terrorism.

He particularly mentioned the bank's Eastleigh branch where the manager failed to report cases where a customer withdrew more than Sh50 million in a week.

Haji also claimed that the bank failed to provide CCTV footage of withdrawals.

He said investigators are in possession of reliable information showing that some of the funds withdrawn from DTB, Eastleigh Branch were wired to Somalia and Syria to finance terror activities including the January 15th terror attack at DusitD2 complex in Nairobi, where 21 people lost their lives.

Haji says the daily transaction limit of Sh1 million imposed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is crucial in dealing with criminal activities.

Last week, DTB Eastleigh branch manager Sophia Njoki Mbogo was charged in connection with the 14 Riverside attack.

Ms. Mbogo was charged with failure to report suspicious activity regarding proceeds of crime and anti-money laundering, aiding and abetting terrorism, as well as failure to report suspicious transactions amounting to Sh34.7 million. She has denied the charges.