Forgery suspect Elias Kiptum arraigned in JKIA court, denies 12 charges levelled against him
Forgery suspect Elias Kiptum, believed to be part of an international conspiracy ring, out to tarnish Kenya’s image in the athletics world, by developing false doping allegations against Kenyan athletes was today morning arraigned before Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Court.
His arrest and subsequent arraignment followed investigations by the Anti-Nacortics Unit detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation(DCI) .
According to DCI, since September 2020 they were pursuing a criminal syndicate which has been working with foreign journalists in fabricating information on doping in Athletics Kenya.
“The perpetrators had prepared documents purporting that doping was being promoted and encouraged by several state agencies in the country, with the aim of having Kenya suspended from participating in the forthcoming Olympics in Japan,” read the DCI tweet.
The detectives said that the forged documents purportedly signed by officials from the Anti-Dopping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) and Athletics Kenya (AK) were shared with the Europe-based journalists, who have been part of the ring.
On April 18,2021, DCI sleuths confiscated several documents bearing ADAK and AK letter heads, alongside suspicious bank slips, in a raid conducted at Kiptum’s residence in Iten, within Elgeyo Marakwet County.
“Contract agreement documents between local suspects and the foreign journalists, three laptops, mobile phones among other electronic gadgets were also confiscated from the suspect’s house and are undergoing forensic analysis at DCI Headquarters,” read the tweet.
Kiptum has denied all 12 charges levelled against him and is to remain in custody pending bail ruling which has been scheduled for tomorrow.
