A bid by an advocate to secure the release of his clients landed him in trouble when the law enforcers threw him in the cells.
According to police reports, the lawyer had turned up at the Kasarani Police Station on Thursday armed with Sh900,000 to secure the release of five suspects, who had been arrested over electronic fraud. He, however, ended up in the cells after attempts to bribe the officers failed.
According to police, the lawyer offered the money as a bribe to release the suspects and evade arraignment.
Drama started on Wednesday when police from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kasarani arrested the five and recovered 2,100 registered and unregistered subscriber lines among other electronic gadgets from them.
The suspects had been arrested in Kasarani following a tip-off from the public on their alleged illegal activities.
During the arrest, the lawyer had accused the officers of demanding Sh1 million bribe to buy his client’s freedom. Kasarani head of DCI Jack Owino said the advocate accused his juniors of demanding the bribe.
The advocate even called DCI headquarters to complain about the operation and the bribe claim.
Verify claims
A separate team was sent to the site to verify the claims and returned with a negative verdict. The five suspects were detained at the police cells.
On Thursday evening, the lawyer turned up at the station now ready to buy the release of the suspects and faced Owino.
“He offered the money as a bribe to release the suspects, which is wrong and against the Bribery Act, 2016 and Penal Code. The suspects have conned many people,” said Owino.
The officer then told the advocate he was under arrest for offering police a bribe. He was processed and released on bond and will be arraignment after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions gives its consent.
The amount, which was in Sh1,000 denomination, was processed and documented by the scenes of crime personnel as exhibit, police said.
The lawyer did not respond to our queries. His clients were due to take plea yesterday.
DCI boss George Kinoti urged Kenyans to avoid making online transactions with questionable individuals or organisations.
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“We wish to caution the public against engaging in online transactions with companies or individuals with no credible information,” Kinoti said.
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