BY SAM ALFAN.
A former Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) employee has been fined Sh5 million for fraudulent acquisition of his academic certificates.
Zinje Juma Mwadama will serve eight years imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine imposed by the anti-corruption court.
The court found him guilty of forging his academic certificates to secure employment at the institution.
He was also accused of providing false information to a public entity.
Mwadama was fined Sh100,000 or serve 12 months imprisonment, in addition to a mandatory fine of Ksh. 4,746,834.38 in default to serve 5 years imprisonment.
The amount is equivalent to the net salary he earned from KEPHIS using the forged certificates.
Prosecuting Counsel Susan Keli established that between June 26, 2013, and April 24, 2021, Mwadama, while employed as an Assistant Inspector II, was fraudulently paid Sh4,746,834.38 by KEPHIS.
Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki also sentenced Mwadama to a fine of Ksh. 200,000 or to serve two years imprisonment on two counts of providing false information to a public entity, contrary to Section 46(1)(d) as read with Section 46(2) of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012 Laws of Kenya.
It was stated that he gave the false information on February 8, 2013, on his employment application form, claiming to have a Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development from Baraka Agricultural College and a Certificate in Agriculture with Distinction from Kilifi Institute of Agriculture claims he knew were false, intending to secure employment.
Magistrate Nzyoki ruled that all sentences will run consecutively from the date of judgment, July 30, 2024.
