Court frees Kenyan man wanted by Interpol over Ksh.8M fraud

A Kenyan man wanted by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) over alleged fraud in Uganda has been released by an Eldoret Court after police failed to process his extradition.

Chief Magistrate Charles Obulutsa on Tuesday ordered the police to release Rodgers Kiptanui, who hails from Elgeyo Marakwet after failing to process his extradition documents.

The magistrate added that police could not continue holding the suspect on the strength of the Interpol’s warrant of arrest.

Kiptanui is accused of obtaining $80,000 (Ksh.8 million) through electronic fraud in Uganda where an international warrant of arrest has since been issued against him.

Ugandan police are said to have been in Eldoret awaiting to take the suspect to stand trial before a Chief Magistrate’s Court at Nakawa.

Obulutsa stated that it was up to the police and Interpol to initiate the extradition process so that the suspect can be taken to Uganda and charged.

DCI officer Evans Kamenwa told the court that the suspect was arrested on July 25, 2018, following the execution of an international warrant of arrest issued by a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Nakawa, Uganda, on July 19.

Kamenwa had previously asked the court to allow police to detain the suspect for seven days to enable Interpol to prepare the extradition documents.

The period, however, elapsed without the process having started, prompting the court to free the suspect.