The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has opened investigations into senior officials of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) following allegations that a phone belonging to Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam, currently in custody, is being used to solicit money from the public.
The probe began after OCS Talaam filed a complaint claiming that his phone, which had been confiscated by IPOA as part of an investigation into the death of blogger Albert Ojwang', was being used to send fraudulent messages requesting funds, despite being under IPOA's custody for forensic analysis.
The claims were presented before the court by lawyer Danstan Omari on Wednesday, who revealed that several individuals, including lawyer Cliff Ombeta, had received suspicious requests for money from Talaam's number. "Your Honour, we have credible evidence that individuals, including one of the defence lawyers Cliff Ombeta, have received messages from Talaam's number requesting financial help," lawyer Danstan Omari told the court. "Mr Ombeta was asked for Sh80,000 by an unidentified caller using the OCS Talaam phone.
The phone is being used for fundraising with claims that the OCS is in trouble and needs financial help." "This amounts to a serious breach of protocol and could indicate a criminal conspiracy within IPOA itself." Omari further alleged that even members of Talaam's family had received emotionally manipulative messages from the same number.
