By Dorothy Musyoka
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) has charged Mr Joshua Gatimu Igweta,the former ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to the Islamic Republic of Iran over alleged illegal land possession in Meru County.
The ODPP has brought forward three charges against the suspect including forcible detainer, obtaining land by false pretenses, and interfering with the property of a deceased person.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has therefore made a decision to charge Mr. Joshua Gatimu Igweta with the following offenses: forcible detainer, contrary to section 91 of the penal code, obtaining land registration by false pretenses, contrary to section 320 of the penal code and intermeddling with property of a deceased person, contrary to section 45(1) as read with sub-section(2)(a) of the Law of Succession Act,” stated the ODPP statement.
In a press statement dated 25th July, the ODPP announced that they decided to charge Joshua Igweta after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) conducted investigations, which revealed his alleged illegal possession of the land parcels in questions.
Further the press statement explained that investigations revealed the existence of two pieces of land, one of which was allegedly sold and transferred to M’Mwithimbu M’arachi by one Igweta ltaru, who is now deceased.
“The investigations revealed the existence of two parcels of land namely,Parcel No. Meru/Akaiga /1405 and Parcel No.Meru/Akaiga/4522 , both originating from Meru/Akaiga/381. Parcel No. Meru/Akaiga/4522 is registered to Igweta Itaru (deceased), Parcel No. Meru/Akaiga/1405 is registered to M’Mwithimbu M’arachi,” read the statement.
The investigation also revealed that the suspect had allegedly acquired a new title deed for the same land, even though the original title deed was still valid.
“Parcel No. Meru/Akaiga/1405 was transferred to M’Mwithimbu M’arachi by Igweta Itaru , and Joshua Gatimu Igweta (the suspect) is currently in illegal possession of it,”read the statement.
“In 2019, Joshua Gatimu Igweta obtained another title for Parcel No. Meru/Akaiga/4522 in his name, even though a title in the name of Igweta Itary still existed,” the statement read in part.
However, the investigation revealed that the suspect, Joshua Igweta, is allegedly in unlawful possession of the land.