Thika Law Courts Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo has dismissed a statement issued by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) linking her to bribery and illicit financial dealings.
The anti-graft body on Thursday said it had received numerous complaints against Chief Magistrate Atambo, upon which it conducted a raid on her residence and recovered Ksh.2,070,000 in cash stashed in a laptop bag.
The commission added that the money is suspected to be proceeds of corruption.
However, Magistrate Atambo has refuted the claims, stating that the money belongs to her husband and insisting that the commission should return the cash to its rightful owner.
The anti-corruption agency has launched a probe into multiple complaints alleging that Atambo demands bribes from accused persons in criminal cases in exchange for favorable rulings.
“EACC wishes to confirm that it is conducting investigations against Stellah Atambo, Chief Magistrate, Thika Law Courts following numerous complaints alleging that she demands and receives bribes from accused persons in criminal matters before her,” EACC stated.
Atambo, who has served in the judiciary for several years, maintains that she is innocent and has vowed to challenge EACC move.
Through her lawyers, Atambo has also questioned the manner in which EACC obtained the search warrants.
