An Eldoret court has granted a military officer’s request to retrieve his land title deed worth Sh1 million, which he had submitted as security in court for his daughter’s boyfriend, accused of fraud-related charges.
Stephen Kipyego, the KDF officer, informed Senior Principal Magistrate Onkoba Mogire that he no longer wished to act as surety for the accused, Jacob Kipserem, and requested the return of his land document.
Kipyego stated that he had come to reclaim his land title deed and asserted that the suspect should face the consequences alone, as he had demonstrated dishonesty.
“Your honour I have come to demand for my land title deed back and let the suspect carry his own cross. I am not interested in standing surety for him any longer as he has shown that he is not an honest person,” he said.
Detained in prison Jacob Kipserem stands accused of defrauding Shadrack Kibunguch of Sh960,000 under the pretense of securing a military job for Kibunguch’s son.
The alleged fraudulent transactions occurred in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu county, between November 3, 2021, and December 3, 2021. Despite being arraigned in court three years ago, Kipserem has consistently denied the charge.
Initially, the KDF officer had agreed to stand as surety for the suspect by offering his Sh1 million worth land title deed to secure Kipserem’s release from police custody, facilitated by his daughter’s intervention.
However, soon after his release, Kipserem absconded from Uasin Gishu County, prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest when he failed to appear for trial.
Following a tip-off from the public, police detectives apprehended Kipserem in a South Rift region town where he had sought refuge. Despite Kipserem’s defense claiming ignorance of the court appearances due to being away in search of job opportunities, the Magistrate deemed him a flight risk and ordered his detention at Eldoret GK remand prison until the conclusion of his fraud case.
