Daily Nation Newspaper

ATM SCAM UNEARTHED

- BY RABECCA BANDA

ASCAM has been unearthed and the main suspect is appearing in court for allegedly withdrawin­g more than K70,000 at Atlas Mara ATM in Kamwala using the cardless system.

The scam was unearthed by an alert security officer and administra­tor, Gabriel Chulu, 36, of Garden House following a tip from Head of fraud and investigat­ions at Atlas Mara Bank Limited, Mr Luwo who had requested for a CCTV footage for the Kamwala ATM.

This was revealed before Lusaka magistrate Felix Kaoma in a matter where Rashid Kyagulanyi ,27, an electrical engineer of Matero is accused of having unauthoriz­ed access to Data that is essential for the provision of an essential service, contrary to sections 99(1) and 99(8) of the electronic communicat­ion and transactio­n Act number 21 of 2009 of the Laws of Zambia.

Chulu told the court that part of his duties is monitoring CCTV at Atlas Mara bank using Intelligen­t Video Management Software IVMS, which is used to monitor Digital Video Recorders (DVR) and Network Video recorders (NVR) and access control.

He said the software enables him to monitor real time CCTV footage, record and play back whilst the system is running. He said on January 3, he received an email from Mr. Luwo, head of fraud and investigat­ions at Atlas Mara Bank limited requesting for a CCTV footage retrieval and cardless ATM transactio­n report for December 31 2019 and January 1 2020.

Chulu said from the footage only three people used cardless services to transact at an Atlas Mara ATM in Kamwala on January 1.

Particular­s of the offence were that Kyagulanyi on dates unknown but between December 31 2019 and January 5, 2020 jointly and whilst acting together with persons unknown did intentiona­lly access Atlas Mara Bank Limited database without lawful authority, a database that is essential for the provision of an essential service.

In the second count, Kyagulanyi is charged with an offence of theft contrary to sections 272 of the penal code Act, chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

According to the charge, Kyagulanyi on dates unknown but between December 31 2019 and January 5 jointly and whilst acting together with persons unknown did steal K70,000.00 cash, property of Atlas Mara Bank limited.

In count three Kyagulanyi is charged with money laundering contrary to section 7 of the prohibitio­n and prevention of Money Laundering Act number 14 of 2001 of the laws of Zambia as amended by Act number 44 of 2010 of the laws of Zambia.

The matter comes up June 24 for continued trial. on

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