Traffic Officer Cuts A Deal, Gives Up Sh26M Bribes To State

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has scored a major win after traffic police officer agreed to forfeit Sh26 million linked to bribes received from matatu operators on Garissa-Thika highway to the State.

Since 2017, Jamal Bare Mohammed, has been tussling with the EACC in court over Sh47 million the anti-graft agency was pursuing from the officer.

According to the agency, the officer accumulated his massive wealth through unexplainable means.

“During the six years, we established that he had cumulative assets, cash and land valued at Sh47 million. He had banked Sh26 million, which has been frozen through a court order,” an official from EACC had said.

In an agreement adopted by Justice James Wakiaga, EACC and Bare agreed to surrender the money in a bid to settle a case that has been pending in court since 2017.

According to EACC, Mohamed started negotiating with the anti-graft body last year and made a proposal for a settlement.

The anti-graft agency said it rejected the officer’s initial proposals because the figure he was seeking to surrender was considered small and that his explanation how he made the money was not satisfactory.

The anti-graft body also targeted a parcel of land in Thika, which he purchased at Sh3 million and a motor vehicle.

While arguing his case, Bare said a great part of the wealth was an inheritance from his father who died in 1987.

However, EACC challenged his argument saying he was aged only 10 years when his father died.

Bare, who joined the police service in August 1996, claimed he inherited some 120 camels, 80 cows and 200 goats from his father.

According to him, over time, the animals had multiplied to 217 camels, 180 cows and 268.