Woman arrested for sending abusive text

By Standard Team

A woman is to appear in court for sending a defamatory text message via her mobile phone.

The suspect was arrested for sending the short text message (SMS) to her neighbour in Gem, Siaya District.

Nyanza PPO Anthony Kibuchi said the recipient, Beatrice Anyango, 26, reported that the suspect accused her of spreading the virus that causes Aids.

The PPO confirmed he had seen the message written in Dholuo.

Mr Kibuchi said the suspect is in custody and is set to appear in court.

Meanwhile, a man who offered Sh10,000 bribe to policemen through M-Pesa services to secure his release from custody has recorded a statement with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

Mr Kiplangat Soi, who had been in hiding reported the matter at the Narok Police Station last Wednesday evening.

Soi arrived at the station at 4pm and was grilled by Police Commander Patrick Wambani and CID officers before recording a statement.

"I fear for my life and I have been away from home from last Friday. I took off shortly after being released as the officers would have vented their anger on me after I cancelled M-Pesa transaction soon after my release," Soi said yesterday.

"We have launched investigations into the matter, the District Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO) has been to the ground and compiled a preliminary report" the Police Commander said.

Elsewhere, police are investigating into the theft of 350 bags of sugar worth Sh1.5 million stolen while on transit from Kisumu to Eldoret.

Rogue rangers

Uasin Gishu District Criminal Investigation officer Gedion Munga Nyale confirmed the theft saying investigations are under way.

"We want to know whether the driver and his conductor were attacked or if they were part of the syndicate that stole the sugar," he said.

Mr Amit Aggrawal, the owner of the lorry, said he lost communication with his driver and loader after they reached Kapsabet when their phones went dead.

And in Koibatek, a forest officer and four rangers were interdicted for colluding with loggers in the area, Koibatek District Forest Officer Otieno Mboga said yesterday.

Mr Mboga said the officer and rangers were responsible for destruction in Chemususu, Sarwich and Murkisisi forests.

"They have been illegally harvesting Pine and Cypress trees in the forests. They have seized about 140 logs," he said.

By Jane Akinyi, Stella Mwangi, Robert Wanyonyi, Anderson Ojwang and Vitalis Kimutai