ADVERT 
ADVERTThe case comes amid a separate investigation into the alleged spending of Sh6.7 million mistakenly deposited into another Nairobi man’s account.
A Dandora man is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to five criminal counts linked to the wrongful retention and spending of Sh250,000 mistakenly transferred into his bank account, in a case that underscores the legal risks of treating erroneous deposits as personal money.
The man appeared before the Senior Principal Magistrate’s Court at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday, October 26, 2026, where he was convicted on all five counts after admitting the charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17, 2026, and remains in custody pending the court’s decision.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the incident occurred on September 4, when the complainant mistakenly transferred Sh250,000 to the man’s bank account.
Detectives attached to Wilson Airport launched investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the transaction and trace the funds.
ADVERTInvestigators subsequently obtained a court order in JKIA Miscellaneous Criminal Application No. E184 of 2026, authorising a probe into the recipient’s bank account.
The investigation established that the man had withdrawn Sh150,000 in three instalments before the bank blocked the remaining balance, according to the DCI.
Following a manhunt, detectives arrested him at a hideout near a petrol station in Dandora on October 23. He was later charged with five offences, including intentionally withholding an electronic payment delivered in error.
His guilty pleas resulted in convictions on all five counts, with the court expected to determine the appropriate sentence next month.
DCI Issues Warning Over Erroneous Bank Transfers
The DCI has cautioned Kenyans against spending or retaining money mistakenly credited to their bank accounts, warning that an accidental transfer does not confer ownership of the funds.
The agency cited Section 35 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, which criminalises the intentional withholding of an electronic payment delivered in error.
“Anyone who receives money erroneously should notify their bank immediately and follow the official reversal process. An erroneous credit is not a licence to spend,” the DCI said.
The agency urged recipients of mistaken transfers to contact their banks promptly and allow the matter to be resolved through official channels rather than withdrawing or transferring the funds.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over financial transactions in which mistaken payments are allegedly spent instead of being returned to their rightful owners.
Separate Sh6.7 Million Case Raises Stakes
In a related development, detectives arrested another man over allegations that he spent Sh6.7 million mistakenly deposited into his bank account, with prosecutors recommending charges of withholding an erroneously delivered payment and money laundering.
The suspect was arrested on Saturday, October 24, along Lantana Road in Westlands, Nairobi, by detectives from the Banking Fraud Investigation Unit, according to the DCI.
The investigation traces the transaction to November 18, 2025, when a company was processing 74 electronic payments, including Sh72,000 in rent owed to the suspect for a shop in Suswa.
An error during the transaction allegedly resulted in an additional Sh6,744,354 intended for another company being deposited into the suspect’s account alongside the rent payment.
The DCI said the company subsequently sought to recover the funds, but the suspect allegedly spent the money instead of returning it to the rightful owner.
Detectives investigated the transaction and forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review.
Unlike the Dandora case, in which the accused has already pleaded guilty and been convicted, the Sh6.7 million matter remains an allegation, with the suspect’s criminal liability to be determined through the legal process.
What Kenyans Should Do When Money Lands in the Wrong Account
The two cases highlight the importance of caution when unexpected deposits appear in bank accounts.
Financial institutions and investigators may trace transactions through account records and other evidence, while recipients who knowingly retain funds transferred in error risk criminal prosecution.
Kenyans who discover unexplained deposits should immediately notify their banks, preserve transaction records and cooperate with the institution’s verification and reversal procedures.
They should also avoid making withdrawals, transferring the money to other accounts or attempting private arrangements that could complicate recovery.
As the Dandora man awaits sentencing, the DCI’s message is clear: money mistakenly deposited into an account is not automatically the recipient’s property, and spending it may carry serious legal consequences.
