DPP rejects extortion charges on two bloggers
By Zadock Angira, August 21, 2020
Two bloggers arrested on Tuesday were yesterday set free after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) rejected the charges of extortion and publishing false information.
Jack Okinyi who works for Business Illustrated and Milton Were of Kenya Today were first charged with the offence of attempting to extort by threats, but the charges were later changed to publication of false information under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act.
“After perusing through the file, I can see that the case emanates from inter-friendship fallout.
It is my considered opinion therefore that the case can be handled through other channels or the complainant should consider suing the accused for defamation. I therefore reject the charges,” a prosecutor from the ODPP wrote.
Ongoing investigations
The two are expected to appear before an officer of the rank of an Inspector on August 26, who said they were still investigating the case of publishing false information.
“In exercise of my powers conferred upon me under Section 52(1) of the National Police Service Act 2011, I require you Milton Were Oluoch to attend before me at DCI HQ situated at Kiambu Road within Nairobi county on August 26, 2020, at 8am,” Inspector Ahmed Haji wrote.
Okinyi was also directed to report the same day.
The two had been accused, jointly with others yet to be arrested, of attempting to extort money from Absisirat Khalif Ali. The amount was however not stated in the charge sheet.