The Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi on Tuesday, March 28 convicted former Bonchari MP Robert Pavel Oimeke for receiving Sh200,000 bribe.
The former lawmaker received the bribe on December 10, 2020, when he served as the director-general for the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
Oimeke received the bribe from one Wycliffe Odhiambo, a petroleum dealer, to facilitate the reopening of a petrol station in Oyugis, Homa Bay County that had been shut down over violations.
Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ooko heard that officials from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission(EACC) laid a trap for the former EPRA boss and arrested him after he received the money.
Mike Mbuvi, an officer with the EACC, told the court that he seized Sh200,000 from Oimeke on December 12, 2020. The officer also produced in court the money seized as exhibits in the case.
The court also heard that Oimeke had demanded a bribe of Sh500,000.
Magistrate Ooko convicted Oimeke for the offence of receiving the Sh200,000 bribe but acquitted him over the offence of demanding a bribe of Sh500,000.
The court ruled the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Oimeke received the bribe by producing electronic evidence.
The magistrate also said the prosecution produced a transcription of the conversation between Oimeke and the complainant.
Acquitting Oimeke on the count of demanding a bribe of Sh500,000, magistrate Ooko said the prosecution failed to tender electronic evidenceto prove the MP had solicited the money.
“I hereby acquit the accused on the first count of demanding a bribe of Sh500,000. I, however, find him guilty of the second count of receiving a bribe of Sh200,000. I convict him accordingly,” the magistrate ruled.
In mitigation, Oimeke pleaded for leniency saying he regrets the offense. He said as a result of the incident he lost his job.
“He is now conscious of the actions and pleads with this court to exercise leniency while passing sentence,” his lawyer mitigated.
The court sentenced Oimeke to three years in jail or pay a fine of Sh1 million.
