The High Court has quashed a six-month jail sentence handed down to Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama by a magistrate court that had found him guilty of fraud and other crimes.
Justice Patricia Gichohi of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division quashed the conviction handed to Arama by Anti-Graft Court Chief Magistrate Victor Wakumule in 2022, and set aside the sentence on grounds that the prosecution failed to discharge its burden as required by law against the lawmaker.
The lower court had fined Arama Sh1.5 million or serve a six-month jail sentence on June 30, 2022.
The magistrate court also sentenced three former Nakuru land officers, John Mwaura, Daniel Nyantika and Charles Birundu, who were also given an optional fine of Sh1,040,000 each.
In her judgment on the appeal filed by Arama, Justice Gachohi noted that the respondent properly conceded that the conviction was unsafe on all counts in this appeal.
"The appeal, therefore, succeeds on both the conviction and sentence. As a consequence, I hereby quash the conviction, set aside the sentence and order that any money deposited by the appellant in the form of a fine in this matter be released to him forthwith,' the ruling read in part.
