A suspect accused of using the phone belonging to former Nairobi Central Police Station Officer Commanding Station (OCS) to extort money has denied all charges against him.
The suspect, Brian Ronoh Kiprotich, faces eight counts of computer fraud. He is alleged to have used the mobile phone number of former OCS Samson Talaam to solicit funds from the officer’s family and legal team. The phone was reportedly in the custody of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) at the time, as part of an investigation linked to a murder case.
Appearing before the Milimani Chief Magistrate, the accused pleaded not guilty to all eight counts, and the court recorded his plea. He also denied being in unlawful possession of seven national identity cards that were found in his home during his arrest. Authorities discovered the IDs while apprehending him at his residence in the Pipeline area of Nairobi County.
The national ID cards found reportedly belonged to various individuals. Ronoh admitted to possessing one of them, claiming it belonged to his brother, with whom he cohabitates. He denied any knowledge or wrongdoing concerning the remaining identity cards.
According to court documents, the alleged fraud occurred between June 16 and 19, 2025. During this period, Ronoh, alongside unidentified accomplices, is said to have fraudulently replaced the SIM card of the former police officer and used it to request money under false pretenses.
Following the plea, Ronoh applied for bail. However, the request was opposed by the prosecution, which cited concerns about possible interference with ongoing investigations. The court was also informed that a pre-bail assessment report was necessary before any decision could be made regarding bond terms.
The prosecution’s argument was supported by Talaam’s legal representative, who raised questions about how the phone and SIM card ended up in the suspect’s possession despite being under IPOA custody.
The court declined to release the suspect on bail and ordered that he be remanded at the Industrial Area Remand Prison. The matter is scheduled to return to court on September 12, 2025, pending the pre-bail report and further directions.
