The Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court has convicted Simon Titus Yandi, Director of Swift Tracing and Company Limited and a private investigator, for requesting and receiving a bribe from a businessman.

The court heard that Yandi received a bribe of Ksh.30,000 from Peter Rukuwa Chege, a businessman trading in academic books, with the intent of not charging him with offences related to the sale of alleged counterfeit books.

Brand-ID Technologies Africa had contracted Yandi to conduct surveillance, investigation, and identification of major counterfeit suppliers and booksellers involved in infringing the rights of the Kenya Publishers Association. However, despite the expiration of his contract with Brand-ID Technologies, Yandi continued to solicit bribes under the guise of ongoing surveillance.

Additionally, the court found Yandi guilty of mutilating currency, contrary to Section 367A of the Penal Code. Prosecuting Counsel Linda Otieno informed the court that Yandi tore six currency notes, each of Ksh.1,000 denomination, which were part of the Ksh.30,000 used as evidence in the investigation under the Bribery Act No. 47 of 2016.

Principal Magistrate Isabellah Barasa ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt after calling fifteen witnesses. The court is set to deliver the sentence on Monday after the prosecuting counsel informed the court that Yandi has a prior offence record, which she needed time to present.

In her ruling, the Principal Magistrate suspended Yandi’s bond terms and ordered that he be remanded pending sentencing.

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