Equity Bank employee accused of duplicating banking system profiles in theft plot

Ian Muhia Maina appeared before Milimani Resident Magistrate Irene Thamara, where he denied three charges. (Carolyne Kubwa)

An Equity Bank employee has been charged with allegedly creating duplicate user profiles on the lender’s banking system in a suspected scheme to steal from the financial institution. Ian Muhia Maina appeared before Milimani Resident Magistrate Irene Thamara, where he denied three charges relating to unauthorised access to a computer system, attempted theft by servant and conspiracy to commit a felony. The prosecution alleges that Maina accessed Equity Bank’s computer system without authorisation and duplicated two user profiles on its Finacle banking platform, identified as VM53601 and BC 23924. According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed on diverse dates between May 2026 and October 21, 2026, at an unknown location within Kenya, jointly with other individuals who have not been presented before the court. Maina faces a charge of unauthorised access to a computer system contrary to Section 14(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. The prosecution claims the alleged duplication was intended to facilitate a further offence of theft. He is also accused of attempted stealing by servant contrary to Section 389 of the Penal Code. Prosecutors allege that he and his unidentified accomplices duplicated the two user profiles as part of an attempt to steal from the bank. In a third count, Maina faces a charge of conspiracy to commit a felony under Section 393 of the Penal Code. The prosecution alleges that he entered into an agreement with other persons to commit the offence of attempted stealing by servant. The case centres on the alleged duplication of the two user profiles within Equity Bank’s Finacle system, a banking platform used to manage financial operations, including customer accounts and transactions. User profiles typically determine the functions and information an individual can access within a computer system. The prosecution’s case is that the alleged unauthorised access and duplication were intended to facilitate theft. The three charges relate to different aspects of the alleged conduct: accessing a computer system without permission, attempting to steal from an employer and conspiring with others to commit a felony. Maina was released on a cash bail of Sh200,000 or an alternative bond of Sh600,000 as the case proceeds. The allegations remain unproven, and Maina denied the charges against him.