Man withdraws 6.7 million sent to him by mistake and invited trouble

A Nairobi man has landed in serious legal trouble after allegedly spending more than Sh6.7 million that was mistakenly deposited into his bank account, despite the money being intended for another company.

The suspect, identified as Dickson Yiaile Sitei, was arrested on Saturday, October 24, 2026, along Lantana Road in Westlands, Nairobi, by detectives from the Banking Fraud Investigation Unit (BFIU).

According to investigators, what initially appeared to be an ordinary banking transaction eventually turned into a costly financial dispute, with the suspect now facing criminal charges over the alleged misuse of the millions that found their way into his account by mistake.

How a Sh72,000 Rent Payment Turned Into a Sh6.7 Million Windfall

The incident dates back to November 18, 2025, when a company was processing 74 electronic payments as part of its financial transactions.

Among the payments was Sh72,000 intended for Sitei as rent for the company’s shop in Suswa.

However, an error during the payment process reportedly resulted in two separate amounts being credited to his bank account. In addition to the legitimate rent payment, Sh6,744,354 meant for another company was mistakenly deposited into the same account.

The unexpected transaction effectively placed millions of shillings in the suspect’s hands, even though the additional funds were not intended for him.

The situation reportedly took a troubling turn when the company discovered the error and sought to recover the money.

According to the investigation, Sitei allegedly proceeded to spend the funds instead of returning the excess amount.

The decision would later trigger an investigation by detectives, transforming what began as a payment-processing mistake into a criminal case.

Following the incident, detectives launched investigations to establish what had happened to the money and whether the funds had been deliberately withheld.

The inquiry eventually led to Sitei’s arrest in Westlands, Nairobi, on October 24, 2026.

Investigators subsequently forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review and directions on the appropriate charges.

After examining the evidence presented, the ODPP reportedly recommended that the suspect face two criminal charges.

The first is intentional withholding of an erroneously delivered payment, contrary to Section 35 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, No. 5 of 2018.

The second is money laundering, under the relevant provisions of the Proceeds of Crime and Money Laundering Act.

The charges relate to the alleged decision to retain and spend money that had been transferred into the suspect’s account in error.

Sitei remains in custody as police process the case ahead of his expected arraignment in court. The allegations will be subject to determination through the judicial process.

DCI Issues Warning Over Mistaken Bank Deposits

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has used the incident to remind members of the public that money deposited into a bank account by mistake does not automatically become the account holder’s property.

Although an unexpected deposit may initially appear to be a financial windfall, knowingly spending or refusing to return funds that belong to someone else can lead to serious legal consequences.

The case also highlights the potential financial risks associated with electronic payment errors, which can result in substantial losses when the money is transferred to an unintended recipient.

Members of the public who discover unexplained deposits in their accounts are therefore advised to contact their banks promptly and allow the relevant institutions to investigate and correct any errors.

The DCI has warned that individuals who deliberately withhold and spend money mistakenly credited to their accounts risk facing the full force of the law.

For Sitei, what reportedly began with a legitimate Sh72,000 rent payment has now culminated in an arrest over millions of shillings that were never intended for him.

As the case proceeds, the central question will be whether the prosecution can establish that the money was knowingly and unlawfully withheld and spent, as alleged by investigators.