Two businessmen accused of offering bribe to police officer attached to KRA

Mombasa,

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

KNA by Sadik Hassan

Two businessmen were charged before a Mombasa court Wednesday for offering a Sh1.7 million bribe to a police officer attached to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Mombasa.

Boniface Ouma and Isaac Keyari allegedly offered the bribe to Margaret Ongale, a Police Officer attached to KRA in a bid to influence the outcome of an investigation she was carrying out in their favor.

The duo was arrested Tuesday and detained at the Central Police Station after they were processed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

According to EACC, the Police Officer declined the bribe and reported the matter at their office.

“The Commission applauds the Police Officer who declined the bribe offer and instead reported the matter to EACC. This is what is expected of all public officials when they face such ethical dilemmas,” reads in part EACC statement posted in its official X account.

The offence according to the charge sheet seen by KNA occurred on 2nd September 2023 at Jawabu restaurant, Ganjoni.

The duo was arraigned before the Anti-corruption court and charged with giving a bribe contrary to section 5 (1) (a) as read with section 18 of the Bribery Act no. 47 of 2016.

Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku released the two suspects on Sh1 million with one surety with an alternative cash bail of Sh500,000.

A third suspect, Philip Muigai Nduati did not take a plea, his lawyer told the court that he was admitted to a hospital and prayed that the plea be deferred for all three suspects because one of them was not present in court.

Ithuku declined to grant the application for lack of merit with prosecution counsel Yassir Mohammed also opposing the prayer.

The matter will be mentioned on 23 November 2023 when Nduati is expected to take a plea.

Courtesy; KNA