Man Risks Jail for Keeping Sh130,000 Mistakenly Sent to His M-Pesa Account

A mechanic has been charged with intentionally withholding payment after a customer accidentally sent him Sh130,000 instead of Sh13,000 via M-Pesa.

Leonard Oyiri allegedly went into hiding after receiving the payment from Sadiq Abdi who had visited his workshop in Kayole, Nairobi to purchase a car seat. Oyiri showed Abdi a seat and they agreed on a price of Sh12,300, with Abdi offering a tip of Sh700 to make the total Sh13,000. However, when Abdi sent the payment, he mistakenly added an extra digit. After Oyiri allegedly went into hiding, Abdi reported the matter to Kayole Police Station.

During the investigation, the defendant admitted to receiving the money but claimed that he only realized he had been sent more hours after he left. He explained that he was waiting for a call from the complainant but did not have his contact information. The defendant told the police that he went to Njoro, Nakuru County and settled some financial obligations for his family before visiting his other family in Siaya.

Oyiri spent all the money and asked to be allowed to pay Abdi back once he got the funds. On September 6th, the defendant denied the charges in court and pleaded for a lenient bail, citing his two wives and nine children who depend on him. The judge granted him a cash bail of Sh50,000. The case is set to be mentioned on November 11th with the trial scheduled for February 29th next year.

Also in courts today, two former social workers at Mama Lucy Hospital have been convicted of trafficking children two years ago. Accusations were made against Fred Leparan and Selina Awuor Adundo for the theft and sale of babies at prices ranging from Sh100,000 to Sh300,000. Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Esther Kimilu ruled that there was sufficient evidence beyond doubt to prove that Fred Leparan was involved in a conspiracy to commit an offence.