A police officer, Paul Rotich, has been sentenced to 40 years in jail after he was found guilty of defiling a 15-year-old minor at Gatundu Police Station. The details of the case indicate that Rotich raped the 15-year-old minor whose parent had sought help from the law enforcers after the parent suspected her daughter was having sexual relations with the cousin.
Officer Paul Rotich took advantage of the minor as he was left to supervise her while she was cleaning an office within the station.The former Constable of police was found guilty contrary to the Sexual Offences Act, in a judgement delivered at Gatundu Law Courts by Principal Magistrate H.M. Ng’ang’a.
“The complainant had been booked in the cell being a child in need of care and protection. The accused took advantage of the vulnerability of the complainant,” ruled the Magistrate.
The case was investigated with the help of Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), where more evidence was collected.
“The exhibits were collected a few days after the alleged offence and kept in the IPOA laboratory. The collection, packaging, sealing, labelling, storage and preservation of the said exhibits were clearly explained ensuring that they were not contaminated. I, therefore, find that the integrity of the exhibits remained intact,” the Magistrate stated.
“I find that the prosecution has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence he is charged with,” the judgement read.The judge said the girl`s evidence was also corroborated by other witnesses like the medical officer and the mother.
In his defense, Rotich denied the charges claiming that he was framed up by his seniors due to a strained relationship they had.He further pleaded with the court to be lenient as he had no family to turn to because his parents were deceased.
