JSC wants judge who acquitted Pattni probed

By Beatrice Obwocha

Nairobi, Kenya: The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has petitioned President Uhuru Kenyatta to form a tribunal to probe Justice Joseph Mutava over allegation of corruption, bias and incompetence.

Justice Mutava recently acquitted businessman Kamlesh Pattni of Goldenberg criminal charges.

JSC stated that it had cleared the judge of eight out of the 11 allegations but had found sufficient grounds to petition the President to form a tribunal to probe Justice Mutava’s conduct in three complaints.

In a statement signed by JSC Vice Chair Prof. Christine Mango, JSC stated that it started the inquiry in December last year and gave the judge a chance to respond to the allegations before making the recommendation.

The JSC committee that investigated the judge was chaired by Justice Smokin Wanjala of the Supreme Court.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) had logged complaints against Justice Mutava before JSC.

 LSK Chairman Eric Mutua had urged JSC to probe nine complaints made by its members against the Judge.

He said majority of the nine complaints concerned cases involving Pattni and his companies.

He regretted that Justice Mutava had acquitted Pattni of the criminal charges but said LSK has since appealed against the decision.