Menengai deputy OCPD charged with defilement
The Nakuru Law Courts.
A senior police officer in Nakuru was on Wednesday charged with defiling a 13-year-old girl in Rongai sub-County.
Police Inspector Joseph Kipsang Ruto, the deputy Officer Commanding Menengai Police Station in Rongai, was charged with sexually assaulting the minor in June 2022 at Mang’u area.
The officer faced a separate charge of having an indecent act with a minor on the same dates contrary to the law.
Appearing before the Nakuru principal Magistrates court, Kipsang denied the charges and through his lawyer, requested to be freed on a reasonable bond term.
The lawyer argued that the officer has been cooperating with investigations since the case was reported in 2022, adding that as a Police officer with a known place of abode, the suspect is a law-abiding citizen who will not abscond court.
“My client has been cooperating with the Independent Policing oversight Authority for two years and is ready to further follow the law as required during the trial. He is also unwell after undergoing a hip replacement and is only two years from his retirement and is not ready to risk compromising that,” stated the lawyer.
The prosecution did not oppose the bond application.
The court released Kipsang on a Sh100,000 with a surety of similar amount.
It further issued strict conditions for the bond terms, including restraining the officer from contacting the suspect or any prosecution witnesses during the pendency of the case.
Kipsang’s appearance in court to face the criminal charge followed the recommendation by the Director of Public Prosecution, who upon review of the investigations file established sufficient evidence linking the OCS to the offence.
“After a thorough review of the file we are of the opinion that there is sufficient evidence to support the charges of defilement and committing an indecent act with a child contrary to the Sexual offences Act, against Joseph Kipsang Ruto,” stated the DPP in a letter dated October 6 and filed in court.
The case will be mentioned on November 12.
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