The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a Court Clerk attached to the Busia Law Courts over an alleged Ksh180,000 bribery scandal involving a criminal case pending before the court.
In a statement on Monday, August 24, the agency said the suspect, Wesley Kipkoech Langat, was arrested after allegedly demanding and receiving the money to influence the outcome of the case.
"The citizen is alleged to have acted on behalf of a Magistrate at the station by demanding the bribe from an accused person as an inducement to secure a lenient penalty in the case," the statement read.
EACC said investigations into the matter began after a report was made concerning the alleged demand for the bribe, which was reportedly intended to influence the outcome of a case involving several accused persons.
"The Commission commenced investigations following a report that the Magistrate, through the Court Clerk, had demanded the bribe to secure a lenient outcome for the complainant and six co-accused persons in a case involving a commercial vehicle that had been impounded by police officers over alleged traffic offences," the statement added.
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EACC said its officers mounted an operation that resulted in Langat's arrest after he received the Ksh180,000.
"EACC today mounted an operation that led to the arrest of the suspect after receiving the Ksh180,000. He is currently being held at the Commission’s Western Regional Office in Bungoma for processing and is expected to be booked at Bungoma Police Station as investigations continue," the statement concluded.
Elsewhere, Senior Principal Magistrate Martin Kinyua Mutegi of Kangema Law Courts has been charged with receiving a bribe in a case involving allegations of corruption.
In a statement on Monday, August 24, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said Mutegi, who had recently been suspended by his employer, was arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Magistrate’s Court.
He was charged with receiving a bribe contrary to Section 6(1) as read with Section 18(1) of the Anti-Bribery Act, among other charges, and denied the allegations.
"The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has today charged Senior Principal Magistrate Hon. Martin Kinyua Mutegi, attached to Kangema Law Courts, with receiving a bribe, following a favourable High Court ruling that paved the way for his arraignment and plea-taking," the statement read.
The court subsequently granted Mutegi bond terms after the prosecution confirmed that it would not oppose his release.
He was required to provide a substantial bond or an alternative cash bail while being barred from interfering with witnesses.
"The court granted him a bond of Ksh800,000 with a surety of a similar amount, or an alternative cash bail of Ksh400,000. The prosecution did not oppose the bail terms. The court further directed the accused not to interfere with witnesses in any manner," the statement added.
The arraignment followed a High Court decision declining to issue conservatory orders sought by Mutegi in a petition that had been opposed by the DPP.
The decision enabled the prosecution to proceed with the bribery charges against the magistrate.
"The arraignment followed the High Court’s decision to decline to grant conservatory orders sought by Hon. Mutegi, in a petition opposed by the DPP. The ruling cleared the way for prosecution to proceed with the charges against him," the statement further read.
The matter will come up for mention on September 7 for further directions.
