A court in Eldoret has ordered that a 22-year-old man suspected to have hacked into the computer systems of the Uasin Gishu County government leading to unrevealed losses be detained at Eldoret police station for five days.
This is after police officers investigating the case requested the court to allow them to detain the suspect for 10 days so as to complete investigations into the alleged offense.
The suspect Abel Kimel Kibet who is a contracted employee of the county was brought before Eldoret Principal Magistrate Harrison on Wednesday but he was not allowed to take a plea.
“Your honor the suspect is an IT expert, we are worried if he will be released on a bond he is likely to interfere with computer information before cybercrime experts come from Nairobi to help in the investigation,” the investigating officer told the court.
“Following your request this court will not give you 10 days instead you are given five days to complete your investigation,” ruled the Magistrate.
He warned that if investigating officers would not have completed his investigation within the said period, the court will not be held hostage to their slow pace of investigations.
The suspect is likely to be charged with electronic fraud.