A former high-ranking government official has been convicted and sentenced after being found guilty of fraudulently receiving a salary and allowances using fake academic documents.
According to an announcement made by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on Thursday, August 14, the former employee was involved in a scheme where he illegally collected Ksh1,455,066.05 between April 1 and August 31, 2022.
This money was paid as salary and benefits while he was employed at the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC).
The court heard that the individual had secured his job position using a forged Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, which he claimed was from the University of Nairobi. Based on this fake qualification, he was able to access public funds illegally.
As punishment, the court ordered him to pay a fine of Ksh3 million. If he fails to pay, he will have to serve four years in prison. He was also fined Ksh100,000 for the offence of fraudulently acquiring public property, with a default sentence of one year in jail if the fine is not paid.
In addition, the court imposed a mandatory fine of Ksh2,910,131, which is double the amount he illegally received. Failure to pay this penalty will result in a two-year prison sentence.
The former official was also convicted for presenting a false document. The ODPP revealed that on March 23, 2021, he knowingly submitted the fake MBA certificate to the REREC CEO in order to deceive and secure the job. For this offence, he was fined another Ksh100,000, or a one-year prison sentence if he fails to pay the fine.
While delivering the ruling, Judge Celesia Okore stated that all the sentences will be served consecutively. This means each penalty will be completed one after the other rather than being served at the same time, making the punishment more severe.
What the Law Says About Academic Forgery
Kenyan law, under the Penal Code (sections 347, 349, and 353), clearly states that forging documents with the intention to defraud or mislead is a criminal offence. Forgery can include altering a real document or creating a fake electronic record.
Section 349 explains that the general punishment for forgery is imprisonment for up to three years. However, penalties may be higher depending on the amount of money involved and the level of fraud committed.
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