Five years in jail for policeman who kidnapped two foreigners
Police officer Painito Ng'ang'ai (left) who was jailed for five years for kidnapping two Ethiopians six years ago in court on November 13, 2020 .
What you need to know:
- Ng’ang’ai was charged with kidnapping Ali Ahmed Hussein and Sulub Abdi Ahmed on January 26, 2014 from Nairobi to the border post of Moyale where he handed them over to Ethiopian authorities.
- Ali and Sulub were negotiators for the ONLF in the talks being brokered by the Kenyan government.
A senior police officer has been jailed for five years for kidnapping two Ethiopian nationals and deporting them without their consent six years ago.
Inspector Painito Bera Ng’ang’ai, initially attached to the Kilimani Divisional Criminal Investigations Office (DCIO), was handed down the jail term by chief magistrate Francis Andayi, sitting at the Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi on Friday.
Passing the sentence Mr Andayi said, Ng’ang’ai, a senior police officer, had tainted the National Police Service whose emblem and motto is “Utumishi kwa Wote (service to all).”
He also said the actions of the officer portrayed the country in bad light given that the complainants were foreigners.
In his sentence, the magistrate said Ng’ang’ai worsened the situation by cheating another senior police officer, Inspector Jared Gachaba, the deputy Officer Commanding Moyale Police Station, that he was the new DCIO posted to Moyale within Marsabit County to enable him drive through the Odda Police Barrier without being inspected.
Ng’ang’ai was charged with kidnapping Ali Ahmed Hussein and Sulub Abdi Ahmed on January 26, 2014 from Nairobi to the border post of Moyale where he handed them over to Ethiopian authorities.
The court heard that Ali and Sulub were officials of the Ethiopian rebel group, the Ogaden National Liberation Front, (ONLF), fighting for independence for the Somali-speaking Ogaden region. They were in Kenya to facilitate peace talks with the Ethiopian government.
Ali and Sulub were negotiators for the ONLF in the talks being brokered by the Kenyan government.
Mr Andayi imposed a consecutive sentence by ordering Ng'ang'ai to pay a fine of Sh600,000 or serve a prison term of two years in default for the offences of kidnapping Ali and Sulub.
For abusing of abuse, he fined him Sh400,000 or serve two years and for the offence of giving false information that he was the new Moyale, DCIO he was fined Sh100,000 or serve on year in jail.
“You will serve a total of 60 months in prison if you fail to raise the Sh1.1million in fine,” Mr Andayi said.
