KACC Gets Orders to Freeze Officer’s Accounts Over Graft

Daniel Nyassy And Gitonga Marete

26 June 2011

Nairobi — The anti-graft watchdog has obtained court orders to freeze accounts of a senior police officer suspected of acquiring wealth through corruption.

Land and other property owned by Kiambu traffic base commander Gabriel Mbiti Mulei have also been seized by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) as it begins investigating how they were acquired.

Mr Mulei used to occupy the same position in Malindi.

According to an application for the order presented by Mr Mutembei Nyagah, a senior investigations officer with the agency, Mr Mulei is suspected of acquiring wealth through corrupt means.

“It is alleged that Mr Mulei has been amassing wealth and developing properties in Malindi, among other unexplained assets, using monies believed to be proceeds of corruption or bribery,” said the application presented before judge Hellen Omondi last Thursday.

The application comes in the wake of the anti-graft agency’s spirited fight against corruption in the police. The force ranks first in the country’s corruption index.

KACC sought orders to freeze Mr Mulei’s accounts in Malindi, which have more than Sh3 million.

KACC Coast regional boss Abdi Mohamed said during their two-month investigation detectives will seek to find out how the officer acquired the property.

Although Mr Mohamed did not disclose the value of the property, a source indicated that they could be in the range of Sh30 million.

This, according to KACC investigators, does not match the officer’s monthly salary of Sh30,000.

“This is just the first step in the process and he will be required to explain to us how he acquired the property,” he said.KACC also placed a caveat on a plot measuring 0.0375 hectares through the Registrar of Titles, Mombasa District Lands Registry.

“This order is to safeguard public interest, prevent further fraudulent alienation or any other improper dealing that could defeat justice,” says KACC’s letter to the Lands officers dated June 20, 2011.

The order by the court prohibits Mr Mulei, as the respondent and his agents, from transferring, disposing of or dealing with plot Number 11335 (originally Number 412/2/129).

According to court documents in our possession, Mr Mulei’s accounts will remain frozen for two months but KACC proposes that even after this period elapses, there will be need to retain the freeze until all investigations are completed.

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