A woman at the Makadara Law Courts fell victim to a police impostor who conned her Ksh10,000 meant for bail.
The impersonator, who was present in court, promised to help the lady pay the bail money, only for him to vanish.
Following the unfortunate incident, the woman was sent to the Lang'ata Women's Prison as a remandee, but she sought to recover her money and seek justice after her release.
According to the victim, the man posed to be a police officer from Kayole Police Station and, on several occasions, would be seen at its premises.
When arraigned in court on January 22, the suspect pleaded guilty to obtaining money by false pretence and impersonating a police officer.
He was found in possession of police handcuffs, and a police certificate of appointment that the court suspected was obtained illegally.
His case will be mentioned on Monday, January 30.
According to the National Police Service Act, any person who impersonates a police officer either in parts or in uniform commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Ksh1 million or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or to both.
"A person other than a police officer who, without the written authority of the Inspector-General in any way pretends to be a police officer for any purpose which he would not by law be entitled to do of his own authority commits an offence," read the Act in parts.
However, a person may, with the approval of the Inspector-General, use police uniforms for artistic purposes.
On Monday, January 9, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) warned Kenyans to be alert over the alarming increase of thugs impersonating police officers.
A detective from DCI was one of the victims of the notorious gang that posed as traffic officers on Friday, January 6, before they trailed him home and shot at him.
