The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) claims that they recovered a total of Sh.6 million in one of the chambers of the two judges who were arrested last week.
However, lawyer Danstan Omari said the detectives were searching for money but did not find a single penny in an inventory filed in court last week.
“That the search at chambers 230 and on the person of the occupants resulted to seizure of among others…..USD 50,000 on the person of a lady present in the chamber and USD 7,000 on the person of 2nd interested party himself,” the affidavit reads.
Banzi says they received a complaint that some brokers had approached select judges with a view of procuring favourable judgements.
“On July 21 at around 3pm I was told by one of the complainants that after a series of meetings between certain judges and brokers a figure of Sh7 million was arrived at and the bribe was to be delivered to the residence of a judge at 7pm,” Banzi said.
According to Banzi, the venue was abruptly changed and rescheduled to the next day at 7.45am in one if the chambers at Milimani law courts arguing that due to the short notice, they couldn’t obtain a search warrant.
“We waited around the relevant meeting area from our time of arrival until 2pm when information was received that the exchange was about to take place but at chamber 230 which belongs to Justice Muchelule, ” the affidavit reads.
The High Court had given directives prohibiting the DCI and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from arresting the two judges pending hearing and determination of their case.
However, the DCI said that they did not arrest the two judges, saying they were assisting with investigations.
On the July 22, 2021, following allegations of corruption and abuse of office, the DCI acting on intelligence and as guided under Article 244(b) of the Constitution engaged Justice Said Juma Chitembwe, Justice Aggrey Muchelule among other accomplices to assist with investigations. The said Judges cooperated with the investigating team, recorded their statements and left to continue with their duties. The investigations are ongoing,” stated DCI.
The court has extended the orders and directed the respondents to file their responses within 15 days and serve all parties.
The case will be mentioned on the 18th of October this year.