On the 16th of December 2023, a significant law enforcement development unfolded in Mbale city, as eight individuals found themselves in custody, accused of orchestrating a cyber intrusion into the Parish Development Model (PDM) banking system.
Among the arrested suspects were John Paulo Wazombe, Agrey Titus, Alfred Mwaka, Stephan Wanyakomu, Asuman Matanda, and Moses Mukhwana, all residents of Nauyo Ward in the Industrial City Division.
This revelation came to light during a press conference held by Mr. John Rex Aachilla, the Mbale Resident City Commissioner.
Aachilla explained that the arrests were the result of intelligence gathered, pointing towards these individuals attempting to compromise the security of the PDM banking system.
The suspects were allegedly targeting PDM beneficiaries, urging them to divulge their account passwords under the guise of assisting them in accessing funds from the Stanbic bank system.
Aachilla detailed the suspects’ modus operandi, indicating that they had been soliciting sums ranging from 50,000/= to 200,000/= from each beneficiary.
Shockingly, it was revealed that over 200 PDM beneficiaries had fallen victim to this illicit scheme, providing the suspects with sensitive account information.
The tipping point leading to the arrests was the distressing revelation that some PDM beneficiaries, having surrendered their bank account passwords, never received the promised assistance, despite funds being withdrawn from their accounts.
This prompted immediate action by the authorities.The Resident City Commissioner went on to express suspicions of potential collaboration between the arrested individuals and Stanbic Bank Officers, as well as Mbale City technocrats.
He asserted that a thorough investigation would be conducted, with the intention of apprehending any other individuals involved in the alleged conspiracy.
As the news unfolded, the eight suspects were confined to Mbale Central Police Station, where they were in the process of recording statements, shedding light on the intricate web of cybercrime and potential collusion that had been woven around the compromise of the PDM banking system.