An Equity Bank employee has been charged at the Milimani Law Courts with allegedly gaining unauthorised access to the bank’s computer system.
He is accused of duplicating two user profiles on its Finacle banking platform in a suspected theft plot.
Ian Muhia Maina appeared before Resident Magistrate Irene Thamara, where he denied three counts of unauthorised access to a computer system, attempted theft by servant and conspiracy to commit a felony.
He was released on a cash bail of Sh200,000 or an alternative bond of Sh600,000 pending further proceedings.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed on diverse dates between May 2026 and October 21, 2026, at an unknown place within Kenya, jointly with other persons who have not been brought before the court.
Maina is accused of gaining unauthorised access to a computer system belonging to Equity Bank Limited by allegedly duplicating Finacle user profiles.
The charge sheet states that the alleged access was carried out “with intent to commit a further offence, namely theft.”
Finacle is a banking software used by financial institutions to manage banking operations, including customer accounts and transactions.
User profiles determine the access rights and permissions assigned to individuals within a computer system.
Depending on their configuration, unauthorised duplication could potentially enable someone to access banking functions beyond their authorised privileges.
In the second count, Maina is charged with attempted stealing by servant, contrary to Section 281 as read with Section 389 of the Penal Code.
The prosecution alleges that he acted jointly with other persons not before the court to duplicate the two Finacle profiles in Equity Bank’s banking system, with the intention of stealing from the financial institution.
The third charge accuses him of conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to Section 393 of the Penal Code.
According to the charge sheet, Maina allegedly conspired with the other suspects to commit a felony, identified as attempted stealing by servant.
Maina denied all three counts and pleaded not guilty when they were read to him.
The allegations have not been tested in court, and the accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case will proceed as the prosecution seeks to substantiate the allegations contained in the charge sheet.
