How policewoman 'asked for Sh5,000 bribe' to free defiled minor

Police Constable Winfred Kinya Henry at a Mombasa court on May 22, 2019, when she was charged with receiving a Sh3,000 bribe to release a defiled minor from custody. PHOTO | BRIAN OCHARO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • They were both apprehended following a tip off from the primary school pupil's parents, who told police that Mr Mangi had eloped with her.
  • While the two were in police cells, the minor’s mother visited, probably to seek her release since she was not to be charged with any offence.
  • According to police reports, however, Constable Winfred Kinya Henry asked the woman to give her Sh5,000 for the girl to be freed without charges.
  • The woman is said to have given some money, unaware of the fact that the minor had not committed an offence.

Mweri Mangi was arrested at Bamba in Kilifi County in September 2018 after he was busted with a minor in his residence.

They were both apprehended following a tip off from the primary school pupil's parents, who told police that Mr Mangi had eloped with her.

They were locked up at Bamba Police Station ahead of Mr Mangi's arraignment on defilement charges.

BRIBE

While the two were in the police cells, the minor’s mother visited, probably to seek her release since she was not to be charged with any offence.

According to police reports, however, Constable Winfred Kinya Henry, who was manning the cells on September 17, asked the woman to give her Sh5,000 for the girl to be freed without charges.

The woman is said to have given some money, unaware of the fact that the minor had not committed a crime.

Police officers who were once again tipped off arrested Ms Kinya for allegedly receiving a bribe from the woman.

CHARGED

The police constable was charged in Mombasa County on Wednesday.

Ms Kinya is accused of asking the woman for Sh5,000 with the intention of releasing her child from police custody.

She is further accused of receiving a Sh3,000 bribe from the complainant in order to release her child.

The prosecution said she committed the offences knowing her work would be affected. The prosecution also noted that the girl is a witness in case number 74/2018, in which Mr Mangi is charged with defiling her.

Mr Mangi has denied committing the crime in Bamba between September 1 and 13.

BAIL

Ms Kinya denied the charges before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Edna Nyaloti and was released on Sh20,000 cash bail.

Ms Nyaloti noted that she is not a flight risk as she is a serving police officer.

The officer asked to be supplied with copies of the charge sheet, witness statements and any other documentary evidence the prosecution will rely on.

The case will be mentioned on June 3.