Ruto’s trial haunts city magistrate
Photo/FILE
Chief magistrate Gilbert Mutembei gives his ruling on suspended Agriculture minister William Ruto over graft charges on April 12 2011.
The acquittal of Eldoret North MP William Ruto and two directors of a ranching firm on graft charges returned to haunt a magistrate during an interview for the post of High Court judge.
Chief magistrate Gilbert Mutembei was taken to task over his handling of the cases, with Judicial Service Commission chairman Willy Mutunga labelling him “a conveyor belt for acquittals’’.
Mr Mutembei defended the acquittals, saying courts made decisions based on evidence.
“In the Malili Ranching Company case, I even urged the police commissioner to take disciplinary action after the investigating officer testified that the directive to prosecute came from higher authorities,” said Mr Mutembei.
Commissioner Ahmednasir Abdullahi was not impressed with his responses and shot at him:
“Magistrates attack the police and police do the same, creating a ping pong game. Why is it that the accused is always acquitted in high profile cases?”
Mutembei replied: ‘‘There is a lot of interference.”
Dr Mutunga then weighed in: “What are you going to do about it or will you continue being a conveyor belt for acquittals when the courts are being manipulated?”
