DPP Breaks Silence on Arrest of Judge Chitembwe & Muchelule

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DPP Breaks Silence on Arrest of Judge Chitembwe & Muchelule
DPP Breaks Silence on Arrest of Judge Chitembwe & Muchelule

Africa-PressKenya. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution issued a statement regarding the arrest of two High Court Judges; Said Juma Chitembwe and Aggrey Muchelule which happened on Thursday, July 22, 2021.

The Office of the DPP in a statement shared on their social media page denied involvement in the arrest of the two High Court Judges.

The DPP, Noordin Haji, made it clear in the statement that his office did not order that of the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to carry out the arrest of the two judges.

Further, they debunked an initial report by Law Society of Kenya Nairobi branch chairman, Eric Theuri who had insinuated that the DPP had orchestrated the arrest of judge Chitembwe and Muchelule.

Mr Haji however stated that if the files are presented to him he will then give away forward regarding the case.

“Contrary to reports by one Eric Theuri, purportedly speaking for LSK blaming the DPP for the arrest, the DPP is not aware of circumstances which led to arrest or questioning of 2 Judges neither has his office received any investigation files concerning them,” DPP stated.

He added, “In the event, the file(s) is presented to the ODPP for advice, the DPP will direct as appropriate.”

The two judges were arrested on grounds of being implicated in a corruption case and grilled at DCI headquarters for two hours before being set free.

They were accused of taking bribes for the various cases they were assigned.

“They were arrested by the Battery of waiting for police officers. They drove back to the chambers of Justice Muchelule and were told that there has been an exchange of money and that money was within his (Muchelule’s chambers).

“A search was conducted. Not even a coin was found within the chambers of Muchelule,” lawyer Danstan Omar stated.

Judge Aggrey Muchelule is among the six judges who were rejected by President Uhuru Kenyatta for a promotion to the court of appeal a decision that led to a fallout with the Judiciary.

Chitembwe on the other side was among the candidates who were keen to replace David Maraga as the Chief Justice but failed to prevail.

The 54-year-old Justice Chitembwe stirred controversy in 2016 when he set free a man serving a 20-year jail term for defiling a 13-year-old girl free on grounds that it was wrong to hand the man the heavy punishment when both were enjoying the relationship.

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