Man arraigned in court for using edited transaction messages to lie to his landlady that he has paid rent for 37 months

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A 31-year-old man has been charged with lying to his landlady about having paid rent for 37 months by using edited transaction messages.

Emmanuel Ian Osome, a Kenyan man, was charged at Milimani law courts with attempting to defraud his landlady with edited false Mpesa transactions on various dates between November 1, 2018 and November 8, 2021 at Kristy Homes in Langata, Nairobi.

Emmanuel is charged with five counts of fraudulent misuse of electronic data in violation of the law and computer forgery.

He was arrested after the landlady requested a police investigation and action on the alleged fraud in a letter to the DCIO Nairobi area. She claimed that the accused had been sending false Mpesa transaction text messages to the caretaker, who had issued him with rent payment receipts believing that the Mpesa transactions were genuine.

An investigation determined that no money was paid to the landlady’s bank account that corresponded to the alleged Mpesa transactions made by the accused.

The officer also obtained a report from Kenya’s Communication Authority confirming that the accused sent the bogus monthly Mpesa texts to the caretaker.

When arraigned in court, the tenant entered a “not guilty” plea. His lawyer begged for mercy, claiming that they are negotiating with the landlady.

Emmanuel was granted cash bail in the amount of Ksh200,000, and the case will be heard in 14 days for pre-trial proceedings.