Former Kitale prosecutor fined Sh200,000 for bribery

An Eldoret court has fined a Kitale prosecutor Sh200,000 after he was found guilty of soliciting bribes.

Eldoret Chief Magistrate Charles Obulutsa ruled that James Sichangi will serve two years in jail in default for two counts of receiving bribe contrary to the Ethics and Economic Crime Act.

Obulutsa said although the accused was a first offender his action exposed the National Police and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutor to public ridicule and contempt.

According to charge sheet the accused, who was at the time working as a prosecutor at the Kitale law courts on November 15, 2014, solicited a bribe of Sh60,000 from Joyce Wanjiku.

The bribe was an inducement not to object bail application by Wanjiku’s employee Fred Wabuoba charged in a Kitale court.

Sichangi concealed Sh30,000 which was to be used as evidence into the offence of corruption under the Anti-Economic Corruption and Economic Crime Act.

The accused was initially charged with five counts of corruption.

The complainant reported the matter to the offices of the EACC in Eldoret.

The charge sheet further stated the accused was recorded asking for money.

He was given the money on November 13 at the Kitale court and was arrested by EACC detectives after receiving the money within court premises.