Betty Korir, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Credit Bank PLC
Nyachae Family owned Credit Bank has again been linked to fraud that has attracted the Central Bank of Kenya and the Anti-Banking Fraud Investigations Unit (BFIU) domiciled under the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. The sleuths have been probing a Ksh. 3, 690, 000 million fraud case connected to senior managers at the poorly run bank.
The money in question was sent through RTGS on June 2, 2017, to the bank’s client to his Credit Bank Koinange Branch was diverted to a separate account against the payment advice
A senior official at the bank in collusion with a lady bank client are accused of orchestrating the fraudulent scheme to divert the money to the lady’s company account, according to reports.
They are also accused of forging signatures of two account holders at the bank including that of the complainant pretending to be joint signatories of the account the money was diverted to.
According to the payment advice, the money was to be transferred to the complainant’s personal account.
Sh500,000 was withdrawn in cash using Office Ventures cheque number 000002 dated July 10, 2017 and the complainant signature was allegedly forged in the pretext that he is a signatory in the account.
The balance was transferred to the lady’s personal bank account whois believed to have been used as a conduit to embezzle the money in question.
The complainant has since disowned any knowledge of being a director or shareholder to Office Ventures.
In answering the claims, the bank’s CEO Betty Korir acknowledged the existence of the matter but insisted it had already been solved. “We wish to advise that the matter has been handled through various channels with the client including but not limited to physical meetings and written communications. Further, the matter was earlier raised through the Central Bank of Kenya and was sufficiently responded to. We confirm that all transactions are handled per the prudential guidelines.” She told a local publication.
Money Laundering
This is not the first time that the bank has been linked to fraudulent activities, in 2020, the Deputy Director, Head of Offences Against the Person Department at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jacob Ondari ordered an investigation against Credit Bank CEO Betty Korir over alleged banking fraud.
This was after a whistle-blower associated her with money-laundering offences and illegal acquisition of property.
Ondari said in a previous letter dated May 20 that it was a serious complaint touching on the fraudulent acquisition of property and conflict of interest and money laundering.
The CEO is reported to have used another company to access the funds from China, which were cashed out in suspect circumstances disguised as a business loan.
The CEO is a lawyer by profession and received her appointment letter as CEO in 2017. Previously she had served as the head of Credit and deputy CEO. She had previously worked for Triodos Bank in the United Kingdom.
Credit Bank is a third-tier lender partly owned by former Finance Minister Simeon Nyachae. Top shareholders are Nyachae’s Sansora Group with a 14.96 per cent stake, followed by Sanama Investment (14.34 per cent), Ketan Morjaria (9.88 per cent) and Jay Karia (8.61 per cent).
Kenya is categorised by the US State Department as a Country/Jurisdiction of Primary Concern in respect of Money Laundering and Financial Crimes.
Kenya remains vulnerable to money laundering, financial fraud, and terrorism financing. It is the financial hub of East Africa and is at the forefront of mobile banking. Money laundering occurs in the formal and informal sectors, deriving from domestic and foreign criminal operations. Criminal activities include transnational organized crime, cybercrime, corruption, smuggling, trade invoice manipulation, illicit trade in drugs and counterfeit goods, trade in illegal timber and charcoal, and wildlife trafficking.
Cases of internal fraud in banks have seen many Kenyans lose their depositors’ money and the CBK no longer takes such matters easy. To protect the interests of the depositors, institutions found guilty of any banking fraud are slapped heavily with fines dealing a blow to its reputation while risking a bank run.
Such cases must be investigated to the end and results made public for the public’s interest and safety assurances.
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