Tunoi tribunal visits alleged scene of bribery

The tribunal investigating suspended Supreme Court judge Philip Tunoi has visited Petro filling station on Waiyaki Way where he is alleged to have received a 200 million shillings bribe from Nairobi Governor Dr. Evans Kidero.

The Sharad Rao-led tribunal visited the petrol station after its legal advisor Paul Nyamodi, together with Tunoi’s lead counsel Fred Ngatia, said there was need to visit the scene to help them gauge the veracity of claims made by Tunoi’s accuser, Geoffrey Kiplagat.

In his affidavit, Kiplagat claims that he saw Justice Tunoi receive a briefcase stashed with US dollars currency amounting to 200 million shillings from Governor Kidero before the two waved at each other.

On Tuesday morning, a police officer told the Sharad Rao-led tribunal that the main accuser of the Judge, Geoffrey Kiplagat, once sought their assistance to help him recover 30 million shillings from Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero.

Corporal Peter Kimutai Too said Kiplagat had gone to the CID headquarters where he wanted officers to threaten or harass Kidero to pay him his money after helping broker a deal with the judge.

The police officer however told the tribunal that Kiplagat did not record a statement over the matter.

Tunoi’s lawyer Fred Ngatia also cross-examined a senior police officer based at CID headquarters, Stanley Cheruiyot, who was also allegedly approached by Kiplagat for assistance to recover the money from Kidero.

Kiplagat accuses Justice Tunoi of receiving 200 million from Kidero to rule in his favour in an election petition.

About two weeks ago, Tunoi’s defense team led by Counsel Ngatia sought to discredit Kiplagat’s earlier testimony and affidavit.

Tunoi’s defense team urged Kiplagat to come clean on allegations that Justice Tunoi purchased two parcels of land and two tractors in Uasin Gishu County after receiving the alleged bribe from Kidero.