NAIROBI, Kenya — Three former security officers charged in connection with an international cybercrime investigation linked to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have been discharged after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) withdrew the case before the Kahawa Law Courts.
Principal Magistrate Gideon Kiage on Tuesday allowed an oral application by the prosecution to withdraw the case under Article 157 of the Constitution. The application was not opposed by the defence.
The court subsequently ordered the release of Patrick Nyambaka Osoi, Jackson Kuria and Hiram Kimanthi.
“The matter be and is hereby withdrawn. The accused persons be and are hereby discharged and set at liberty,” Magistrate Kiage ruled.
Case Withdrawn Without Opposition
The matter had been registered as Criminal Case No. E104 of 2025 before the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Kahawa.
During Tuesday’s mention, prosecutors opted to withdraw the charges, with no objection from defence counsel. No reasons for the withdrawal were disclosed in open court.
Investigation Linked to FBI Probe
The three former security officers were arrested in 2025 following investigations involving the FBI into an alleged transnational cybercrime syndicate suspected of targeting American organisations through business email compromise and other online fraud schemes.
Investigators had alleged that the suspects operated from Kenya as part of a broader criminal network under investigation by United States authorities.
The case formed part of wider cooperation between Kenyan law enforcement agencies and the FBI in efforts to combat cross-border cybercrime and financial fraud.