News
Ex-MP and lover in Indian jail
Former Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala and Ms Joyce Akinyi. Photo/FILE
Posted Wednesday, October 15 2008 at 19:51
Former Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala and the woman at the centre of a property wrangle with her estranged Nigerian husband have been arrested in India and are being held in prison.
On Wednesday, the Nation learnt that Ms Joyce Akinyi and Mr Wanjala have been behind bars in New Delhi for a week now after they were allegedly arrested in the city with bundles of American dollars after police swooped down on a money laundering racket.
A source in New Delhi on Wednesday narrated how she met Akinyi — whose divorce case with Mr Anthony Chinedu is pending in court — at the Tihar prison in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Arrested on Friday
Reliable sources also indicate that the couple were arrested at the New Delhi Airport last Friday, October 10.
Authorities at the Tihar prison confirmed that Mr Wanjala was their guest. “Yes, it is confirmed that Raphael Bitta Sauti Wanjala is in this jail,” the official said.
He did not, however, confirm what charges, if at all, had been preferred against the two, saying such information could only be obtained from the arresting police station, which we could not immediately establish.
Ms Akinyi’s name could not be displayed on the computer the prison official was using, raising the suspicion that she was using an alias.
Ms Akinyi is said to have travelled to India two weeks ago through Uganda. Reports indicate that she might have travelled from Kampala to India on a passport bearing another name.
Calls to the Kenyan High Commission in New Delhi on Wednesday did not bear any information on the two, since the high commissioner, Mr Festus Kaberia, was said to be in meetings in other parts of the country.
An aide to the high commissioner said she did not have any information on the arrests, but promised to get back to us once her boss returned.
Sources in New Delhi said the two were set up by people they had been doing undisclosed business with.
Reports show that the two had been arrested earlier on the same day and were used by the police as bait to get their accomplices in the undisclosed crime.
“Akinyi was called by another sister she does business with, who told her that they were in trouble and needed to be bailed out.
She carried a lot of money to the airport where she got two of her friends with the police and she was arrested,” said a source.
-
Submitted by zaitPosted October 18, 2008 11:18 PM
-
Submitted by Eddy Boy
Every country has laws no matter what we perceive them to be.If in India its illigal to participate in money laundering,lucky are those who are not caught,i would say if Wanjala and his G/F committed any crime and were arrested then what the government can do is help him get a lawyer and wait for the outcome,why,who sent him to India?Everybody has to carry his own cross,remember about the British couple caught and jailed in Dubai?They had to carry their own cross.
Posted October 18, 2008 06:27 PM -
Submitted by Hillaryio
I think Wanjala should serve his jail term in India. I am afraid if he is transfered to Kenya, he might land himself a cabinet position instead of a jail term. Let us not deny this guy an opportunity to grow rather than just grow old. He could do some growing up in India. Disgusting!
Posted October 18, 2008 09:22 AM -
Submitted by itfreak
I would like to point out the necessity of not giving out the Diplomatic Passport to every member of parliament. Most of our MPs and even ministers are being caught in shoddy and corrupt deals. It should not be automatic that if you get into parliament you are entitled to a diplomatic passport. Too bad for our guy Wanjala. Apparently in some countries, "Money is not above the Law" like here in Kenya. Pole sana bwana Mheshimiwa.
Posted October 18, 2008 09:02 AM -
Submitted by jnyamweya
India are the greatest money roundering racket group in the world. they don't bank i the first place and are the most corrupt people ever seen on the face of the art. With such record, they should be last to accuse others of money laundring however, knowing them reminds me the fact that they just heard about moeny and had to get it through any means. If you owe an Indian, you will never leave India. That alone is a flag on these people. They are a crid greed people in all areas. The wolrd should watch them!!
Posted October 18, 2008 08:32 AM
RSS
And only last week did Dr Corsi carry his own right here in Kenya as we cheered! Let Wanjala foot his bill in India.