BY SAM ALFAN.
A former Huduma Centre clerk officer has been convicted for receiving a bribe of 2,500 shillings so as to facilitate a birth certificate.
In default, Justina Syonzua Malela will serve two years in jail for receiving the bribe from Naomi Musyoka.
Nairobi Anti-Corruption Magistrate Douglas Ogoti ruled that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt against Justina Syonzua Malela.
“The court finds that the issuance of a birth certificate under the Ministry of state for Immigration and persons was a public duty, ”said Ogoti
The magistrate fined Malela 500,000 shillings for the two charge’s abuse of office and receiving the bribe and in default Malela will serve two years in prison.
Syonzua, formerly an employee of the Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government, was charged with several counts, but the prosecution was only able to prove four charges levelled against her.
The court was told that on 8th of September 2016 in Nairobi County being a person employed by the Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination as clerk officer she used her office to improperly to confer to herself a benefit of 2,500 shillings from Nahum Syombua Musyoka as a bribe to facilitate processing of a birth certificate for Wayne Musyoka Maria.
She also faced another count of receiving a bribe.
The complainant Nahum Syombua Musyoka testified that on 30th August 2016 she wanted a birth certificate for her niece Wayne Musyoka Maris. She called Malela who asked for 3,000 shillings and promised to deliver the birth certificate that evening. That figure was however negotiated down to 2,500 shillings as she could not afford the 3,000.
It is said that the money was which was sent to the officer on the same day via her M pesa number.
However the officer never delivered the said birth certificate and that when she decided to report the matter at Huduma Center and Integrity Centre-EACC.
The court in its ruling said that the evidence available demonstrated that the complainant only needed a public duty to be performed which the accused took advantage.
In her defense Malela admitted having received money from unknown person and later refunded the money to the sender.
The court however dismissed the defense submissions saying that it was an afterthought adding that Malela only returned the money after she was charged in court.
Let join hand’s and fight corruption. Corruption hurt’s our economy. Rejected corruption.
