Makueni County police officers arrested three Judiciary staff members for conspiring and issuing fake receipts for payment of court fines.
The officers from Nunguni police post apprehended Court Assistant Nelson Munyaka, Accountant David Mwaura, and Court Driver William Musembi on February 27, 2024.
In a statement seen by The Kenya Times, the National Police Service (NPS) noted that the three accused persons allegedly collaborated in producing and distributing these counterfeit receipts to settle court fines.
“The trio is suspected of conspiring and issuing fake receipts for payment of court fines and forfeitures and subsequent release of accused persons from either Court or Police stations,” read the police statement in part.
These falsified documents are reported to have been used to facilitate the release of accused individuals from either the court or police custody.
“Today, forged receipts amounting to Ksh161,000/= were verified and established to have been issued between Feb 14, 2024, and Feb 16, 2024, in respect to some traffic cases where accused persons had pleaded guilty and fined. The suspects are assisting the Police with investigation,” added NPS.
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The law enforcement body also noted that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) officers, currently in custody are cooperating with the police to carry out investigations into the matter.
In a comparable event back in January, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) apprehended a court assistant working at the traffic registry of the Makadara Law Courts for soliciting bribes.
EACC investigators revealed that the court employee had requested Ksh400,000 from a complainant in exchange for expediting services.
Additionally, at the moment of apprehension, he was in the process of obtaining the remaining Ksh350,000 balance.
New Judiciary Payment Launched by Koome
However, the recent incident contrasts with Chief Justice Martha Koome’s initiative to reduce bribery in the judiciary.
In 2023, Martha Koome introduced a new judicial payment system where offenders were required to pay fines and cash bails directly in open court.
This launch further aimed at aligning with the Judiciary’s commitment to incorporate technology into its operations in a bid to promote transparency throughout the judicial process.
According to the new guidelines, the Court Management System was to be equipped to generate online invoices, thereby simplifying the entire payment procedure.
Furthermore, a statement released on the matter indicated that the implemented guidelines aimed to address the concerns of court users and leverage technology to streamline the process.
Also Read: Martha Koome Makes Changes in Payment of Fines, Cash Bail
“These guidelines address the concerns of court users and harness technology to streamline the process,” Chief Justice Martha Koome noted then.
Koome emphasized that the Judiciary’s ICT department was actively working to ensure smooth implementation of the new guidelines.
“These guidelines represent a significant step towards a more streamlined and technology-driven judicial system, ensuring timely and transparent handling of fines and cash bail, ultimately benefiting court users and the administration of justice,” the statement read.
