Three students from Egerton University were today arraigned in court for obtaining millions of shillings from selling KCSE 2022 leakage to parents and candidates via Telegram forums in the pretext that they would sell them examination materials for the forthcoming national examinations.
According to the official Twitter Account of The Directorate of Criminal Investigations-Kenya, detectives attached to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) launched investigations into the scam last week and have so far arrested the three who are based at the university’s main campus in Njoro, Nakuru County.
The DCI further revealed that the mastermind of the syndicate Kelvin Anunda Mogaka, alias Prof Lenchodas, 24, who is a 4th year Bachelor of Science in Education Mathematics & Physics was trapped and arrested by detectives on Thursday night in his house in Njoro, Nakuru county.
The mastermind lives in a large, and well-furnished apartment, the DCI believe he had earned the money by creating two telegram groups with over 13,000 followers, where he is believed to have obtained millions of shillings from parents, who parted with between Sh5,000 to Sh20,000 to help their children steal the examination.
The Telegram groups contained instructions on how the payments would be made with members being cautioned to strictly follow the procedure to save time. “Avoid many stories, all papers are available,” read one of the messages in the telegram group.
Kelvin was allegedly arrested with dozens of SIM cards & identity cards that he had used to open fraudulent MPESA & bank accounts where the received money would be deposited. “In one such account at Equity bank Kisii branch belonging to his brother who is a teacher in Mogongo Girls Secondary Sch, about Sh2 Million was flagged by the detectives who also discovered that the suspect also operated a similar account at the Kisii KCB branch.” the report by the DCI states.
According to the police, Kelvin had told his family that he had earlier informed him that he had won large after winning the jackpot after a successful bet and would be sending them money to put up a house for him at their home in Mosocho, Nyamira county.
Back home, the suspect was in the process of putting up a modest house in the village, against all odds. The suspect led the detectives to two other accomplices Francis Manyara Ogata alias prof Ranchodas and Bravin Ombongi both fourth-year students at Egerton University pursuing BA in Education, Maths, and Geography options.
During the raid, the detectives recovered six mobile phones, eight identity cards & ATM cards all linked to the fraudulent telegram and bank accounts. The suspects were this morning arraigned at Milimani law courts and released on a Sh1 million bond or 500,000 Kshs with surety of the same amount.
