Nairobi Central Police Station OCS Samson Talam has been arrested in Eldoret after the Independent policing Authority (IPOA) named him as a person of interest in blogger Albert Ojwang’s murder probe.
Talam is considered a prime suspect after multiple witnesses and suspects reportedly implicated him during IPOA’s ongoing investigation.
IPOA Commissioner Boniface Samati confirmed that Albert Ojwang died inside Central Police Station cell.
His arrest comes after a day-long operation over social media influence Albert Ojwang’s death in custody.
Central Police Station OCS Samson Talam Arrested
Investigators pursuing him alleged that he had fled in an attempt to evade capture.
They further stated that he had switched off his mobile phone on Thursday June 12 as officers closed in on him.
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He was eventually located, arrested, and handed over to the IPOA for further processing.
While appearing before the Senate, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss Mohammed Amin said Samson Taalam should be treated as the prime suspect in the murder of Albert Ojwang.
While giving his brief to Senate, Amin clarified that Taalam had declined to book Ojwang upon his arrival in Central Police contrary to initial reports.
“It has further been confirmed that before the booking, the report office personnel called the OCS, who declined to book the suspect. Talaam is the Officer Commanding Central Police Station,” he stated.
“Taalam is the OCS of Central Police Station, and by the totality of things, he should be treated as the prime suspect in this matter,” Amin noted.
Talam’s arrest brings the number of individuals in custody to three in connection with the death of Albert Ojwang, who died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody.
Two More Suspects Arrested
Earlier on Friday, Technician who was allegedly hired to tamper with CCTV footage at the Central Police Station was arrested.
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The technician reportedly admitted that he was paid Ksh 3,000 to delete footage related to Ojwang’s detention.
The suspect said he was taken to the office of the senior officer and asked to delete footage of 6th and 7th June when he arrived at the Station.
At the same time, the suspect claimed that he told the officer that he could not delete the recordings of the two days, and the only option was to delete the content of the whole Digital Video Recorder (DVR).
On Thursday, a police officer, James Mukhwana of Central Police Station in Nairobi, was also arrested and placed in custody at Capitol Hill Police Station by officers from the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) and IPOA in connection with Ojwang’s death.
Ojwang had been arrested at his home in Homa Bay over allegations of publishing false information. He was transferred to Nairobi, where he was booked at Central Police Station.
He later died after reportedly being severely beaten while in custody.
Government pathologist Dr Benard Midia said there were serious injuries to the head, features of neck compression and multiple soft tissue injuries that were spread all over the body, including the head, neck, upper limbs, trunk and lower limbs.
This disapproves the suicide theory according to IPOA.
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