Magistrate questions professionalism of female cop after she was threatened by suspect
Principal Magistrate Irene Gichobi of Makadara Law Courts expressed concerns regarding the professionalism of a female police officer at Mariguini Police Post in Makadara Sub County, Nairobi.
The concerns arose during the hearing of a case where Evans Meroka Mamboleo was charged with threatening to kill the said police officer within the police post.
Mamboleo faces charges under section 223 of the Penal Code for allegedly threatening the officer, uttering words on November 29 that included, “ile kitu nitamfanyia ni kitu mbaya sana na kama hatachunga nitamaliza yeye,” which translates to “what I will do to her is something very bad, and if she’s not careful, I will finish her” without lawful excuse.
The magistrate raised these concerns about the officer’s conduct during Mamboleo’s appearance in court.
The state prosecution office believes those words amount to threats to the officer’s life.
Mamboleo had gone to the police post to check on a suspect held there when an alleged scuffle happened before he allegedly uttered the words.
He is said to have banged the post’s report office desk while allegedly issuing death threats to the officer, and she was informed.
She later made a report at the post, and undercover police officers arrested the suspect.
However, when Mamboleo was arraigned for plea-taking, Ms Gichobi said that the prosecution should take notice that the officer is also a complainant in several other cases pending at the court.
The Magistrate was hinting at a possibility of unprofessionalism on the officer’s part while handling criminal suspects.
In another case where the police constable was the complainant, Ben Marita Mokema, also known as Jembe Kali, faced charges in July of committing an indecent act with an adult under section 11 (1) of the Sexual Offences Act of 2006.
The allegations involve Mokema allegedly touching the breasts of the female police officer.
Mokema is accused of attempting to suck the officer’s breast during his arrest at his residence in Fuata Nyayo slums, Nairobi, on July 21, 2023.
Following his denial of the charges, former Makadara Chief Magistrate Francis Kyambia granted Mokema release on a bond of Sh60,000.
Ms Gichobi released Mamboleo on a bond of Sh80,000 and an alternative cash bail of Sh40,000.
The case will be mentioned for a pretrial on January 11, 2024.