This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
On June 23, 2020, a crucial file in a Sh2,017,200 cocaine case went missing from the magistrate chambers at Shanzu Law Courts, where it was under lock and key.
Police detectives arrested a clerk at the court after the file disappeared, and two other people were also taken into custody. An officer in charge of the court archives and another suspect, who allegedly bribed the clerk, were among those arrested.
According to Josephat Kisingu, the Kisauni Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss, the clerk had allegedly received Sh500,000 to facilitate the disappearance of the file.
“Investigations indicate that the file went missing a day prior to the mention date, which was listed on June 24,” said Kisingu.
The case was scheduled for a mention on June 24, 2020, but the file disappeared a day prior to the mention date.
“The magistrate reported the file missing and investigations revealed it had been put under lock and key in the magistrate’s chamber and only the clerk had access to the file,” said Kisingu.
The accused in the narcotics case denied the charges at the Shanzu Law courts and was released on bond.
“We also arrested a third suspect, on suspicion of having handed Sh500,000 to the clerk for the missing file,” said Kisingu.
Police are still searching for other suspects who are believed to have facilitated the disappearance of the file.
