DTB Bank notorious in aiding crimes

Appearing before the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs in Parliament on Monday, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji says investigations are underway on Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) over suspicious transactions that could be linked to terrorism.

The DPP said investigations indicate that Diamond Trust Bank was being used in aiding and abetting terrorism.

Mr. Haji pointed out the case of Diamond Trust Bank, Eastleigh Branch where he said the bank manager failed to do due diligence when one of their customers was withdrawing over Ksh.50 million in a week.

He claimed the bank is notorious in aiding crimes, further stating that the bank failed to provide CCTV footage of withdrawals.

Mr. Haji said security agencies had obtained reliable information showing that some of the money withdrawn from DTB, Eastleigh Branch was channeled to Somalia as well as Syria to fund terror activities including the January 15, 2019 terror attack at 14 Riverside Drive in Nairobi.

The State Prosecutor defended Central Bank of Kenya’s daily transaction limit of Ksh.1 million saying strict banking regulations are crucial in dealing with criminal activities.

Last week, Diamond Trust Bank’s Eastleigh branch manager Sophia Njoki Mbogo was charged with three counts over the 14 Riverside attack.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi was charged with failure to report suspicious activity regarding proceeds of crime and anti-money laundering, aiding and abetting commission of a terrorism act as well as failure to report a suspicious cash transaction amounting to Ksh.34.7 million.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In a statement on Friday, February 22, Diamond Trust Bank said it was fully cooperating with investigative agencies in the ongoing probe.

“We have provided all the information requested by the authorities in the last few weeks and remain committed to supplying any more support needed towards this investigations,” said the bank.

“We remain committed in our unwavering support to the government in it’s effort to fight terrorrism, money laundering and eradicating corruption.”

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