NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 10 – The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji says he does not regret withdrawing high-profiled criminal cases in recent months due to lack of evidence.
The cases that were withdrawn, touched on powerful individuals who are currently in President William Ruto’s administration.
Haji further blamed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for failing to provide him with enough and satisfying evidence that he needed to support his decision to prosecute.
“The facts that were represented to us that time made us to believe that once the investigations were complete, we will still be able to convict that individual,” he stated.
“However, that never took place and the DCI then did not avail the evidence that was required and a number of affidavits were brought by officers from the DCI clearly outlining that they were pushed to do what they were doing.”
“I stand by my decision and there is a very transparent decision that takes place here and I have no apologies to make.”
Speaking on Citizen Television Thursday, Haji said that some of the DCI officers are currently under investigations for perjury and his decisions to charge were based on evidences provided by the DCI.
He continued by saying that despite the fact that independent file review and charging decisions are guaranteed by law for the office of public prosecution, his office was deceived by DCI officers, who are currently the focus of investigations and could face criminal charges.
“We have discovered several documents were not properly examined. They committed perjury and we will prosecute them for perjury. If some individuals are telling me I should not use the constitution to preserve and avoid miscarriage of justice, I have made that decision objectively, I have not hidden it and magistrates have allowed me to withdraw,” he said.
The DPP added that his office is currently evaluating the majority of its criminal cases nationwide since it is impossible to determine whether the defendants in court are guilty or not.
“Now we have to review each and every case because we don’t know if the person in court is guilty or not. Nobody is bothered those who were involved in the investigation. I have no apologies to make,” he said.
