Maraga Reveals New Trick Suspects in Multi-Million Graft Cases Use to Avoid Court

Chief Justice David Maraga has exposed a new trend of suspects linked to various corruption cases trying to defeat the justice system.

Speaking on Tuesday, May 7, Maraga indicated that there is a new trend emerging of suspects leaving the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division of the High Court in Nairobi.

Maraga pointed out that most suspects are now taking refuge in other far-flung courts.

In those remote stations outside Nairobi, the suspects obtain protective orders in an attempt to scuttle their cases.

“For example, there is an urgent need for the judiciary and other actors in the legal chain to develop mechanisms for the arrest of from what I have been told, EACC views an emerging culture of judicial forum shopping by corruption suspects to delay justice in the US enforcement of anti-corruption laws,” Maraga said.

“I am told that there are instances where suspects likely to be charged with corruption offenses before the Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi have left the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division of the Nairobi High Court and traveled far and wide to the preferred stations of the Supreme Court of the Interior. pursuing protective orders,” Maraga added.

The former CJ warned, could be interpreted by the public as aiming to defeat justice even if there is nothing untoward.

‘To prevent such forum shopping efforts from being perceived by the public as a corruption scheme to frustrate the course of the Internet justice and creating an impression of legal protection for high-profile corruption suspects, EACC should engage the Chief Justice for a possible review of the applicable practice guidelines to ensure that all applications relating to allegations of corruption are henceforth filed with the High Court Division on Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes established for that purpose,” he suggested.

“Further, in determining applications for protective orders to halt corruption investigations, suspension from office, arrest and prosecution of suspects, judges must never lose sight of the urgent need for the country to effectively combat corruption that threatens the well-being of the nation,” he added.