Court allows Nyeri police to detain fake lawyer for seven days
Mr Washington Munene Macharia appears before Nyeri Law Court charged with impersonating a lawyer on July 8, 2016. Police were allowed to detain him to complete investigations. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Washington Munene Macharia appeared before chief magistrate John Onyiego on Friday to answer to charges of impersonation.
- Police requested more time to complete investigations before charging the suspect in court.
Police on Friday were given seven days by a court in Nyeri to continue detaining a man accused of purporting to be a lawyer and representing clients in various courts across Mt Kenya region without a legal practicing licence.
Mr Washington Munene Macharia appeared before chief magistrate John Onyiego on Friday to answer to charges of impersonation.
However, he did not take a plea after police said they needed more time to enable them complete their investigations.
According to the investigating officer constable Kyalo Kathinzi, Mr Macharia was arrested by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer at Narumoru town in Nyeri County on Wednesday.
Mr Kathinzi told the court that Mr Macharia was taken to the Nyeri Police Station where he was detained for two nights.
“The Nyeri chapter of Law Society of Kenya (LSK) officials also came to the station and complained that Mr Macharia has on several occasions represented clients in courts across Mt Kenya region without a practicing Licence,” constable Kathinzi told the court.
Mr Kathinzi asked the court to give him seven more days to continue detaining Mr Macharia at the Nyeri Central Police Station to enable him to complete his investigations before charging him with the crime.
He said he wanted to get a verification report from the LSK office in Nairobi as part of his investigation.
“I also want to get more evidence from the LSK officials in Mt Kenya region and also record complaints from those purported to have been represented by the suspect,” said Mr Kathinzi.
The prosecution led by state lawyer Allan Wanjohi did not oppose the application.
According to the compliance and ethics enforcement officer Mount Kenya region Muthui Kimani, Mr Macharia is said to have been on the run from Kangema in Murang’a, where he was busted in court by lawyers as stood to represent a client.
He disappeared before police could make an arrest, but the court issued a warrant of arrest against him.
Mr Macharia said there was another warrant of arrest against the suspect that was issued by the Karatina Law Courts following complaints from lawyers.
Nyeri LSK chairman Wahome Gikonyo said they are collecting all evidence and tracking other fake lawyers and asked members to give any information on fake lawyers to the police.
The Chief Magistrate Mr Onyiego allowed the application and ordered the case to be mentioned on July 15.
(Editing by Joel Muinde)
