The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has accused the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Nairobi Central Police Station, Samson Taalam, of interfering with crucial evidence in the ongoing investigation into the death of Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody.
Appearing before the Milimani Law Courts on Monday, the prosecution told the court that Taalam, the custodian of the station’s records and CCTV surveillance system, hired a technician to tamper with security footage believed to hold key evidence relating to the death of Ojwang.
“The respondent directly interfered with the digital surveillance system, which is critical to this investigation,” the prosecution stated.
The DPP further informed the court that Taalam’s mobile phone had been seized and is undergoing forensic analysis, adding that several witnesses particularly police officers who were on duty during the incident are yet to be interviewed or have their statements recorded.
“There is a real risk of further interference with these witnesses due to the respondent’s senior position. This could severely undermine the integrity of our investigations,” the State argued.
The prosecution is now seeking to have Taalam detained for 21 days to allow the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to complete its investigations without obstruction.
“This limited period of detention is the least intrusive measure we can take to safeguard the interests of justice and ensure the victims’ rights are upheld,” said the State Counsel.
The DPP maintained that the State acted in good faith by promptly bringing Taalam before the court and ensuring he was informed of the reasons for his arrest and the legal basis for seeking extended detention.
“We have met the legal threshold for pre-trial detention. The evidence shows clear attempts to tamper with crucial records and intimidate potential witnesses,” the prosecution added.
The court is expected to deliver a ruling on the detention application in due course, with the defence team anticipated to strongly oppose the State’s request to detain the senior police officer for the three-week period.
Albert Ojwang’s death has sparked public outcry, with rights groups calling for accountability and transparency in investigations involving police misconduct.