According to the judge, it was unethical that a judicial officer who was entrusted to take care of judiciary land conspired with some officers to hive off part of the court’s land before selling it to the businessmen, Aashish Vallabhdas Jethwa and Lalji Karsan Ramji Rabadia. SEE ALSO :Clean up your own mess, President tells Judiciary as CJ Maraga defends recordThe suit was filed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission following complaints that the judiciary land was being used by private developers to construct high-end shopping complex in Kisumu. Justice Olao dismissed the former magistrate’s defence that he had been misled by two officers from the provincial administration to hive off part of the judiciary land. He added that the magistrate and the then commissioner of lands Wilson Gachnja abused their powers by allowing public land to be taken by individuals. SEE ALSO :Don't blame Judiciary for your own failuresHe also ordered the businessmen to pay EACC the cost of bringing up the case.

Source: Standard Digital March 26, 2019 16:41 UTC