China has asked Kenya to surrender 76 suspects detained because of cybercrime allegations, but the African country has yet to yield to the demand, putting both nations in a situation that may damage their economic ties.

The alleged criminals are being held in Nairobi, Kenya and China has been pressuring the country to release the suspects. According to reports, China has demanded that these 76 Chinese plus one Thai national should be extradited back to the mainland.

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These detained individuals were accused by Kenya of cross-border telecommunication fraud and electronically stealing CNY100 million (US$16.5 million) from Chinese victims. China has argued that since those whose money was stolen are from China, they should be extradited and prosecuted in their own country if proven guilty.

In a letter to the Kenyan government, Chinese ambassador Liu Xianfa said: "Taking into account the seriousness of the crime, the huge loss suffered by the Chinese victims and the friendly relations between China and Kenya, the Chinese government further requests the Kenyan government to repatriate the above mentioned suspects back to China at an early date."

However, Kenyan officials have not yet made a move in relation to the demands but Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the case should undergo the correct court process first. The suspects were charged with operating an unlicensed telecommunication facility back in December and if found guilty of the crime, they will be facing 15 years in prison or a fine of US$54,000.

Chinese and Kenyan government officials, however, dismissed reports that the case might cause a strain the its economic ties with Kenya.

China is the largest investor and the second largest trading partner of Kenya. Just recently, China has given Kenya a US$3.8B loan for a railway line that would boost trade between Kenya and other countries.

TagsKenya, cybercrime, economic ties, detainees