Police can’t grant bail for serious offences: ACP

POLICE do not have the authority to grant bail for serious offences but by law an accused with a genuine reason has the right to apply for bail from court, says Assistant Comm of Police (ACP) Anthony Wagambie Jnr.
He made the statement after a woman, believed to be the grandmother of a sexually abused girl, claimed in her Facebook post that police acted in an injustice way by releasing the alleged offender on a “snake” bail (corrupt bail) on Saturday night.
It was alleged that the granddaughter of the woman (name withheld to protect the identity of the minor), a 10-year-old girl, was raped two years ago by a man believed to a step son of the woman.
ACP Wagambie said the accused was arrested and charged with sexual penetration of a minor on Friday at the Boroko police station.
He said his family approached the Boroko police station commander (PSC) Chief Insp James Wafihuambu for bail but it was rejected due to the serious nature of the offence.
He added that the accused man’s family then engaged a lawyer who applied to the court for bail which was granted.
A court order was produced by the PSC with orders for a K800 bail with conditions, according to ACP Wagambie.
“(The woman) should have lodged her complaint through the metropolitan superintendent’s office, where enquiries would have been done to give her the answers she wants,” ACP Wagambie said.
He has directed Met Supt Perou N’dranou to look into the incident and K10,000 allegedly paid to police as mentioned by (the woman) in her statement released on Tuesday.