Anti-graft agency can now lock up suspects

Integrity Centre along Valley road in Nairobi on January 18, 2013. The anti-corruption commission can detain suspects at the Integrity Centre since it is gazetted as a police station. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• The station, situated on Valley Road in Nairobi, will be controlled by the commission.
• He said the previous arrangement where the agency had to rely on police stations outside its control did not augur well for confidentiality.
• He said the agency will soon forward files to the Director of Public Prosecution, Keriako Tobiko, for further action.

By NATION CORRESPONDENT

The anti-corruption commission can detain suspects at the Integrity Centre since it is gazetted as a police station.
Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo designated the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) headquarters as a police station in a Gazette notice dated August 15.

The station, situated on Valley Road in Nairobi, will be controlled by the commission.

The anti-graft chairman, Mumo Matemu, said the move would improve the operations of the watchdog, as the centre will hold corruption suspects just like any other police station.

“We will have cells for the suspects under interrogation,” Mr Matemu said.

He said the previous arrangement where the agency had to rely on police stations outside its control did not augur well for confidentiality.
“We have started renovating the building,” he said.

On Thursday, the father of businessman Deepak Kamani was questioned by the agency in relation to the Anglo Leasing scandal.

Mr Matemu said officials interrogated Mr Chamanlal Kamani for close to two-and half-hours.

FORWARD FILES

He said the agency will soon forward files to the Director of Public Prosecution, Keriako Tobiko, for further action.

The Kamanis are linked to companies that were awarded 13 out of 18 Anglo Leasing contracts. The remaining five went to Sri Lankan businessman Anura Perera, who was recently paid Sh1.4 billion by the government.

“We are solidify the information we have from all the people we interrogated” Mr Matemu said.