The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has discredited Lydia Achieng’s story of being wrongfully sentenced to ten years in jail over false allegations of defiling a minor.
According to the DPP, Achieng’ was lawfully incarcerated and her story account was a fabrication of facts.
The DPP initiated probe into the matter after Achieng’ who was interviewed by Inooro TV said she had been jailed for ten years despite the accuser withdrawing case against her. Achieng’ said at the time when she was accused of the crime, she was living with an orphaned young girl who she had offered to help educate.
The girl is said to have gotten into a relationship with one of the neighbour’s sons but she refuted the claims saying they were only friends and they used to borrow books from one another.
“If I find you with Rajab, I will punish you severely and take you back home,” Achieng’ warned the girl
However, the son’s mother went ahead and initiated arrest of Achieng’ accusing her of defiling the minor.
According to her, she was picked by the police from a salon where she was getting her hair made. Contrary to her account, court files seen by the Standard indicate she was engaged in a fight over a man at Legero Bar in Kiserian with the complainant, Sophia Lepuchelit.
According to the court records, Achieng’ went to the bar and she was offered two bottles of beer by a unknown man.
“I used to sell clothes. I understand the charges. I knew nothing about this case. I was at a bar called Legaro on November 7, 2010. A man bought me two bottles of beers, a lady came in the company of a young boy. She demanded to know who I was and also demanded to know who was the man who bought me beer,” read her testimony before Kibera magistrate’s court.
“She alleged that I was having an affair with her husband. She started calling me a prostitute. I went to report at Kiserian Police Station but on the way she passed me. I was not given a chance to report. I was told that they were waiting for me. The police did not hear my plea of innocence.” She told the court that Lepuchelit had promised to teach her a lesson, but, later said she will forgive her.
“The lady threatened to frame me with serious charges. I learnt about the case and I was shocked. The complainant wanted to forgive me,” she testified in her defence.
Lepuchelit’s 13-year-old son was among those who testified against Achieng’ alongside a guest house manager named Sylvester Tanui. The boy testified that Achieng’ lured him to have sex three times and even stole his mother’s money to go spend with her.