Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti and Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet risk being imprisoned after a petition was presented to court by Bunge la Mwananchi president Henry Namiti Shitanda over posting mug shots of criminals.
The move to court by Shitanda seeks to have the two security principals jailed for failing to honour the orders issued by the court to stop posting mug shot images of the offenders on social media.
“Joseph Boinett and George Kinoti are committed to civil jail for a term of six months for contempt of court for deliberate breach of the court orders issued by this court on the December 7 2018.
“The acts of the defendants directly and through their agents and employees have displayed outright arrogance of the court orders made by the court and this warrants urgent citing them for committal to civil jail,” read part of the application.
According to the head of the group, a letter dated December 19 was written to Kinoti and Boinnet to ensure that they adhered to the ruling made by the court.
“The respondents have no regard to the dignity and authority of this court and they have defied the orders of this court with impunity,” remarked Shitanda.
In December last year, Shitanda had filed an application against the posting of the photos and stated that it was unconstitutional.
Justice Wilfrida Okwany had given conservatory orders to the DCI and the National Police Service (NPS) to halt the procedure ahead of the determination of the case.
“That a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the Inspector of General Police and Director of Criminal Investigations from posting suspects and or accused person booking photographs on the internet and social media, specifically on the DCI Facebook and Twitter page pending the determination of the petition,” ruled Okwany.
The vocal president of the bunge la manainchi had argued that the photos should only be posted after the suspects were arraigned in court.