DPP to charge ex-ambassador in alleged illegal land possession case

 

Court hammer

The office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) will now charge a former Kenyan ambassador to Iran over an alleged illegal possession of land.

According to a press statement released by the ODPP, the decision to charge Joshua Igweta was after investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) revealed that he was allegedly in illegal possession of the parcels of land in question.

The ODPP has preferred three charges including forcible detainer, obtaining land by false pretence and intermeddling with the property of a deceased person.

"The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has therefore made a decision to charge Mr. Joshua Gatimu Igweta with the following offenses: Forcible detainer, contrary to Section 91 of the Penal Code, Obtaining land registration by false pretences, contrary to Section 32o of the Penal Code, and Intermeddling with the property of a deceased person, contrary to Section 45(1) as read with sub-Section (2)(a) of the Law of Succession Act," a statement dated July 25, by the ODPP reads.

The press statement explained that investigations revealed the existence of two pieces of land, one of which was allegedly sold and transferred to M'Mwithimbu M'arachi by one Igweta ltaru, who is now deceased.

However, the probe found out that the suspect, Joshua Igweta, is purportedly in illegal possession of the land.

The probe further revealed that the suspect had also allegedly obtained a new title deed for the same land, despite the original title still being in existence.

"Parcel No. Meru/Akaiga/1405 was transferred to M'Mwithimbu M'arachi by Igweta ltaru, and Joshua Gatimu Igweta (the suspect) is currently in illegal possession of it," the ODPP said.

"In 2019, Joshua Gatimu Igweta obtained another title for Parcel No. Meru/Akaiga/4522 in his name, even though a title in the name of Igweta Itaru still existed." 

The DCI opened an inquiry into alleged illegal possession after they received a complaint on the matter.

by BRIAN ORUTA