A lawyer was on Thursday apprehended while attempting to bribe a police officer with Sh900,000.
Antony Kirunyu Karoki was arrested by DCI detectives as he tried to secure the freedom of five suspected electronic money fraudsters arrested within Kasarani.
“The five suspects were arrested yesterday, 12th August 2020, with over 2,100 registered and unregistered subscriber lines among other electronic gadgets, and were being processed for arraignment when the suspect in question appeared,” DCI said.
Mr. Antony Kirunyu Karoki; a practicing advocate at Karoki & Co. Advocates was today arrested by @DCI_Kenya Kasarani detectives following an attempt to bribe the Investigations Officer with Kshs. 900, 000 to secure the release of Five suspects of Electronic Fraud without charges. pic.twitter.com/kb2alL9Mcs
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) August 13, 2020
The five are; Samuel Githinji Njenga, Wilson Mugo Githinji, James Gitonga Maina, John Ngotho Kariuki and Ian Mbogo Kamau.
The suspects were found within Pavab Apartments and in their possession were 1,720 unregistered Safaricom lines, 429 Airtel lines, five handsets and five laptops.
“Acting on a tip off from members of the public, DCI Detectives based at Kasarani have today arrested five individuals within Pavab apartments on suspicion of engaging in Electronic Money Fraud,” DCI tweeted.
… James Gitonga Maina, John Ngotho Kariuki and Ian Mbogo Kamau were found in possession of 1,720 unregistered Safaricom lines, 429 Airtel Lines, Five hand sets and five laptops.
All the suspects are in lawful custody as further investigations continue.
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) August 12, 2020
In a series of tweets, DCI said that Mr Karoki tried to bribe the Investigating Officer in an attempt to have the suspects released without charges.
The Sh900,000 bribe was in Sh1000 denominations that has since been processed and documented by Scenes of Crime personnel and kept as exhibit.
The lawyer who is in lawful custody will be charged with several offenses under the Bribery Act No. 47 of 2016 and the Penal Code.
Meanwhile, John Ng’ethe Mwaura, a man wanted for running a conning syndicate within the city was on Thursday released on a Sh200,000 cash bail or a Sh500,000 bond.
UPDATE | The Suspect; John Ng'ethe Mwaura was charged today and released on Ksh 500,000 bond or Ksh 200,000 cash bail. The case will be mentioned on 19th August, 2020 for consolidation. https://t.co/Hr1vRD1ugx
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) August 13, 2020
The fraudster poses as an overseer with of the Christ Love International Ministry.
In 2018, he was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer and maliciously damaging his property.