A former procurement officer will serve six years in jail or pay Sh1.5 million fine after he was found guilty of soliciting for a Sh 1.6 million bribe.

Davis Chele Edewa, a former procurement officer at the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Athi River Machakos County, appeared before Kajiado Chief Magistrate Susan Shitumbi.

He was charged that in August 2016 he demanded the bribe from Hezbon Ngugi Kamande – a contractor – to influence the award of a tender in his company.

The Court heard that contractor alerted officers from the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) who laid a trap leading to the suspect’s arrest.

The anti-graft body arrested Mr Chele at a hotel Kitengela where he was expecting to meet with the contractor hoping to receive the Sh1.6 million bribe.

The accused was found guilty on charges of soliciting and receiving a benefit contrary to the law.