National Police Service suspends officer accused of defilement
A police officer has been suspended from duty after being charged for allegedly defiling a 15-year-old girl inside a police cell in Murang'a County.
The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) has suspended from duty an officer charged with defiling a 15-year-old girl inside a police cell in Murang'a County.
Letingis Lentirangoi was on Tuesday, charged at Kigumo court house but pleaded not guilty. He was released on a personal bond of Sh100, 000. The case will be mentioned on February 24.
"In view of the criminal proceedings that have been instituted against you...it is hereby decided that you be suspended from duty for the period the due process will be live, to be reviewed in line with the court finding," the NPSC letter reads in part.
The girl had been remanded at Muthithi Police Station in Kigumo Sub-county for the offense of absconding school.
It was not immediately clear why the minor was being held in adult police cells, contrary to the law.
The NPSC directed the officer to keep off duty and put him on half salary until the case is concluded.
If he is vindicated, he will be reinstated otherwise, he will be summarily dismissed with no benefits.
Ordered arrest
The charge sheet read that on New Year’s eve the said police officer was alleged to have taken the girl out of her cell to an adjacent office and repeatedly defiled her.
“The complainant was distraught and the following morning asked to see the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) with whom she shared her ordeal,” the incident report prepared by the station reads.
The OCS ordered that she be taken to the Kigumo Level Four Hospital for examination. A P3 form was then issued and duly filled. Through an identification parade, the minor positively identified the suspect.
The OCS immediately ordered for his arrest.
The officer denied the charge before Senior Resident Magistrate Shivai Agade, and asked to be released on bond.
