Two traffic cops fined Sh1m each over bribery

Two traffic police officers who were nabbed taking bribes from motorists in a sting operation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have been found guilty and fined Ksh1 million each by the Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi.

The two constables, Abdi Khalif and Shadrack Ngatia, attached to Makuyu traffic base were arrested in January this year by the EACC Rapid Response Team following the sting on Thika – Kenol road.

During the sting operation, the two police officers were arrested with Kshs. 14,300/=, being proceeds of bribes from various motorists.

The two were convicted on Friday, September 1, when they appeared before Justice Bidali CM at the Nairobi Milimani Anti – Corruption Court where they were charged and found guilty of dealing with suspect property c/sec. 47 (2) (a) as read with section 48(1) OF ACECA.

Both accused persons were fined Ksh1 million each or in default 12 months’ imprisonment.

Further, the court fined the two a mandatory fine of Ksh28,600 each in default six months’ imprisonment.

The magistrate said that the evidence adduced by the EACC investigators who arrested them proved beyond reasonable doubt that the two had been collecting bribes from the motorists.

The two officers were captured on video by the EACC surveillance team collecting bribes from motorists.

Recently, in a prominent case, a city businessman who falsified documents and registered two parcels of land belonging to the government has been fined Ksh8.5 million by the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court following investigations by the EACC.

The accused, David Kamunya Runo was charged alongside Zipporah Wangithi Runo, Kawafalls Ltd and Dosama Holdings on six counts of uttering false documents and obtaining registration of land by false pretences.

The Anti-Corruption Court, sitting at Milimani in Nairobi on July 28, 2017, also fined the two companies osh8.5 million, but acquitted Ms Runo.

The court was told that the land in question is a road and railway reserve along the Southern by-pass near Wilson Airport and is valued at Ksh60 million.

The court was further told that the title deeds were registered in 2007 in the names of Kawafalls Ltd and Dosama Holdings, companies which are co-owned by the two accused persons.

Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi ordered the accused to pay the fines within six months, failure to which the EACC will institute civil recovery of the said fines from the two companies.

The conviction was secured through combined efforts of the EACC’s asset tracing team, evidence analysts and the prosecuting counsel.