A Nairobi magistrate has instructed Safaricom to issue a replacement SIM card for former Central Police Station officer Samson Taalam after his number was reportedly used to defraud his contacts while he was in detention.
Taalam testified before Milimani trial magistrate Caroline Nyaguthi that during his arrest over the death of Albert Ojwang, his mobile phone, which held both personal and official lines, was taken by officers from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
He said, "upon his arrest, two officers attached to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), one of whom he identified as Jibril, confiscated his mobile phone, which carried both his personal and official line."
He told the court that relatives and friends later reported receiving messages from his number, asking for money supposedly to cover bail costs, ranging between Sh10,000 and Sh80,000. Some of the complainants confirmed witnessing him surrender his phone to the IPOA officers.
Concerned about the suspicious activity, Taalam filed an official complaint at Lang’ata Police Station, which led to an investigation into the SIM misuse.
The court also heard from Abdi Abdile, a senior official representing persons with disabilities, who received a text from Taalam’s number requesting Sh10,000 for bail. Abdile said he sent Sh1,000 and told the sender he was trying to raise the remaining amount.
He added that he became suspicious after receiving calls from a Swahili-speaking individual, pointing out that as a deaf person, Taalam normally communicates with him only through texts. Abdile later recorded a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
Four suspects are facing charges linked to the alleged extortion. The case is scheduled to continue on March 25, 2026.
