"Detectives who stormed my office framed me," ex-MP tells court in KSh200,000 bribery case

Former Bonchari MP Robert Pavel Oimeke took the stand on Wednesday, October 19 to defend himself against charges of bribery after he was placed on his defense by the Milimani Anti-Corruption court.

In his defense, the former Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General claimed that he had been framed by detectives who stormed his office and arrested him.

The accused, who did not call any witness, further claimed that he was surprised to find an envelope inside a drawer in his office and that he neither knew who brought neither it nor its contents.

Oimeke made the claims despite the prosecution demonstrating to the court through video evidence that he had received the envelope containing bribe money from the complainant.

He further alleged that he picked the envelope with his left hand despite the Government Chemist Analyst Report confirming that both his hands had traces of APQ powder, a chemical used in such operations.

The accused was charged with requesting KSh500,000 and receiving KSh200,000 from the complainant in order to facilitate the re-opening of his petrol station in Oyugis, Homabay County in 2020.