An Italian lawyer has been placed under house arrest in Malindi and her passport confiscated after one of her dogs bit a neighbour.
Italian media outlets report that the 58-year-old female lawyer stands accused of failure to put in place mechanisms to ensure her fierce dogs don't harm neighbours. At the time the neighbour was reportedly bit, the attorney was not in Kenya.
However, she was immediately arrested after she jetted back into the country. She was also asked to pay Ksh3.5 million (20,000 euros) during which her passport was confiscated.
However, the lawyer has complained that she is being harassed and Kenyan authorities are abusing their power to extort money from her since she is a foreigner.
La Republica, an Italian news outlet quoted the lawyer saying that she had already paid Ksh69,000 (400 euros) to the victim as compensation. She is now questioning why such treatment is being meted out to her.
The lawyer alleged that Kenyan police have made it a habit to extort money from Italians in Malindi.
"I am rebelling against this system of corruption that has been going on for too long, I have principles and have been a lawyer for 30 years. I want to be an example for my son too," she stated.
She revealed that the incident occurred in April last year and they agreed on compensation with the victim which was settled.
The lawyer had reported the matter to the Italian consulate where she was advised to present herself before the police in December.
She added that she had been arraigned before the local court several times but efforts to defend herself have been futile.
"I do not know what will happen now, first of all, I have to find a lawyer. I confess that I am afraid to appear in court next time," she remarked.
According to the lawyer, she had developed a friendship with the victim's employer, an Italian billionaire, who she now states refused to resolve the matter amicably.
The employer who owns a resort where the victim worked explained that the incident was a personal matter and only Ksh3.5 million would resolve the matter.
