BY SAM ALFAN.
A politician has been arraigned before a Nairobi court over allegations of impersonating an officer from the anti-corruption agency.
However, Millitonic Mwendwa Kitute te was released by the court on condition that he will be reporting to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission once every week, pending conclusion of investigations.
The agency is seeking to investigate eight phones confiscated from Kitute who has allegedly refused to give them a password to access the gadget the agency believes to contain key information.
In an earlier application before Milimani Anti-Corruption Magistrate, the anti-graft body sought to detain the suspect for 14 days as they conclude investigations.
“I am apprehensive that the Respondent given an opportunity shall go into hiding, influence witnesses and also tamper with the evidence in order to scuttle the investigations,” says the investigator.
He submitted that for purposes of the ongoing investigations, it was necessary for the said respondent to be held in custody for a period of at least Fourteen (14) days to enable the conclusion of the investigation.
The court heard that the Commission is undertaking investigations against Kitute for the offence of Impersonating an EACC investigator.
“The said respondent(Kitute) was arrested in Kitui on 20th April 2024 after hot pursuit following a complaint that was made to the EACC,” agency investigator.
The court heard that preliminary investigations by the Commission reveal that Kitute is a serial fraudster seeking for benefit from members of the public on the guise of being an employee of EACC.
The anti-graft agency said it commenced investigations in respect of the said suspicious activities and thus necessary that the Commission be given more time in order to conduct a thorough investigation and call for information from members of the public who have fallen victim.
“The Commission is undertaking investigations against the respondent for the offence of Impersonating Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) investigator contrary to Section 34 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003,” says the commission.
Kitute was arrested in Kitui on 20th April 2024 after hot pursuit following a complaint that was made to the EACC.
The Commission has commenced investigations in respect of the said suspicious activities and thus it is necessary that the Commission is given more time in order to conduct a thorough investigation and call for information from members of the public who have fallen victim.
The agency told the court that despite the request to Kitute to give the passwords to the said electronic devices, he has neglected or refused to reveal the same hence the importance of the court to make an order compelling him to give the same.
“I urge this Court to compel the Respondent (Kitute) to provide to the Investigating Officer passwords to the following electronic devices that in his possession and that were recovered from him which will aid in the speedy conclusion of the investigation, ” said investigation.
