DCI speaks over allegations its officers in Kasarani took Ksh100K bribe to drop case
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is investigating its two officers accused of taking a Ksh100,000 bribe to drop a theft case.
The crimebusters were responding to allegations that two of its officers took a bribe to drop a case where a Kenyan had lost over Ksh240,000 after sending the money to the wrong number.
According to initial reports, the victim, identified as Irene Waithera Maina, while in Saudia Arabia, wanted to send some money to her sister back in Kenya. She went to the bank where she left a total of Ksh413,000 and her sister's details with the teller.
DCI reveals that she was instructed to wait for three days before the money would reflect in her sister's account, but on the expiry of the period, her sister confirmed that she had not received the money.
When Irene returned to the bank, she discovered that the amount was erroneously deposited to a different mobile subscriber registered in the name of William Otieno.
According to DCI, the bank tried to reverse the transaction but only managed to reverse Ksh171,000 while the unintended recipient had already withdrawn the balance of Ksh242,000.
"The complainant decided to board a flight to Kenya to follow up on the matter and reported at Kasarani police station where the case was referred to the DCI Kasarani for action. Two detectives were assigned the case where they launched investigations into, "Intentionally Withholding Payment Delivered Erroneously Contrary to Section 35 of Computer Misuse and Cyber Crime Act no. 5 of 2018"," the statement read in part.
"Upon investigations, William Otieno was traced to Bande area at the Kenya-Tanzania border during the Christmas period, before he relocated to Mombasa at Likoni area. On January 13, 2024, the suspect was nabbed and booked at Inuka Police Station in Likoni. In compliance with the 24-hour rule within which a suspect must be arraigned before a magistrate, the suspect was released on a Ksh22,000 cash bail, but thereafter switched off his phone."
DCI adds that on February 21, 2024, detectives arrested the suspect again in Mombasa and on February 22, the suspect was arraigned at Makadara Law Court where he was charged and granted bail of Ksh200,000 with a surety of Ksh400,000.
"The case will be mentioned on June 18, 2024, with its hearing scheduled for October 24, 2024. Whereas the case is pending before court, the alleged misconduct of the investigating officers will be investigated and appropriate action taken," DCI added.
DCI officers' bribe
Irene alleged that when she reported the case, the two DCI officers asked for Ksh20,000 to fuel the police car, and later another Ksh3,000 to hire a taxi since they could not use the official police vehicle.
“Nilitoa 20K ambayo DCI Kasarani Lucy Mbithe Munyambu told me would be used to fuel the police vehicle at the station since it was out of gas. I then sent her Ksh20,000,” Irene said in the video.
“The day they went to arrest the person, Lucy directly texted me and sent me a mobile number, where I was supposed to deposit another Ksh3,000. She said she would pay for a cab since the police vehicle could not reach the required destination. I sent the money.”
She alleges that the additional Ksh3,000 was sent to a DCI officer, and not a taxi driver.
Irene says she was forced to give up after she learnt that the officers had received a Ksh100,000 bribe from the suspect, who later called her to threaten her.
