On Tuesday morning, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed the arrest in a statement shared with the public.
According to the agency, officers from the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit (BFIU) tracked down the suspect after the clip caused public outrage online.
“Banking Fraud Investigations Unit (BFIU) detectives have arrested Maximilian Motara who was wanted for allegedly mutilating Kenyan currency notes and flaunting the acts on TikTok. He is currently in custody and is being processed for arraignment in court,” the statement read.
Motara first sparked reactions on social media a few days after the video surfaced. In the clip, he is seen holding several Kenyan shilling notes believed to be worth hundreds of shillings. At one point in the video, he tears one of the notes while filming himself.
The act quickly angered many Kenyans online, with some calling on authorities to take action against him for disrespecting the country’s currency. Others, however, questioned whether the notes shown in the video were real or fake.
Despite the debate, the seriousness of the matter became clear after the DCI confirmed that the suspect had been arrested and would face legal action.
In Kenya, destroying or damaging currency is a criminal offence. According to Section 367A of the Penal Code, it is illegal to deliberately deface, tear, cut, or otherwise mutilate any currency note issued by lawful authority.
Anyone found guilty can face a fine of up to KSh2,000, imprisonment for up to three months, or both.
The law exists to protect the integrity of the Kenyan shilling and ensure that banknotes remain usable for trade and circulation.
Following news of the arrest, social media users have said the move sends a strong message that damaging currency is not a joke.
Others said the incident should serve as a warning to social media users who create content that breaks the law in search of online attention. The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court once processing is completed.