KWS officer charged with receiving bribe to help wildlife attack victim

He allegedly demanded Sh50,000 to facilitate compensation for injuries.

In Summary
  • Following concurrence with the ODPP, anti-graft officers from the Northeastern Regional Office in Garissa arrested the man on Wednesday.
  • When Peret appeared before Chief Magistrate Stephen Mbunai on Thursday, he pleaded not guilty to two counts of receiving bribery contrary to the law.
Court gavel.
Court gavel.
Image: FILE

A Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Officer has been charged before Garissa Law Courts for receiving a bribe to facilitate compensation in an animal attack incident.

The court heard that Jimnah Somore Pertet, who is based at the KWS office at Garissa, demanded Sh50,000 to facilitate the complaint's compensation fee for the injuries sustained.

"Jimnah Somere Pertat on August 2, 2021, at Kenya Wildlife Services Office Garissa within Garissa County, being a person employed by a public body, to wit, Kenya Wildlife Service Assistant Warden agreed to receive a financial advantage of Sh50,000 from Issack Hussein Nunow, with intend in consequence, you would fill compensation claim form for persons injured/death caused by wildlife in respect to Duwane Muhumed Kheir," the charge sheet reads.

A report was filed with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on the allegation and a probe was launched.

The Commission found that the officer had received Sh40,000 as part of the demanded bribe.

The investigation report was then forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions recommending charging.

Following concurrence with the ODPP, anti-graft officers from the Northeastern Regional Office in Garissa arrested the man on Wednesday.

When Peret appeared before Chief Magistrate Stephen Mbunai on Thursday, he pleaded not guilty to two counts of receiving bribery contrary to the law.

He was released on a bond of Sh200,000 with an alternative of a cash bail of Sh100,000.

The matter will be mentioned on January 30.

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