According to EACC Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo, seven of the suspects have been convicted while 21 others are under investigation/FILE
According to EACC Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo, seven of the suspects have been convicted while 21 others are under investigation.
Six more cases are pending before court while one of the cases has been withdrawn.
Waqo explained that the individuals were believed to be extorting money from members of the public pretending to be EACC officers.
“Typically, the fraudsters present themselves as EACC investigators; and use this gimmick to extort money and other benefits from members of the public,” he said.
Waqo expressed concerns that cases of such fraudsters have been on the rise since the war on corruption intensified.
“It has come to the attention of the EACC that as the war against corruptions intensifies, the number of cases of fraudsters masquerading as officers of the commission is on the rise,” he explained.
According to Waqo who is also the secretary to the commission, most of the 35 fraudsters were arrested while making attempts to lure unsuspecting members of the public.
The culprits ask for money and promise that they will facilitate them to evade investigations and prosecution ‘for real or imagined corruption allegations.’
Waqo advised members of the public to be cautious and also request for proper identification before engaging officers claiming to work for the commission.
“The commission wishes to notify the general public that all its offenders have been issued with appropriate identification documents which can be verified by any person on request,” he said.
According to Waqo, all interviews by EACC officers are done at its premises or police stations and in the company of an authorised EACC officer.
He further urged members of the public to report any individuals they suspect are not EACC officers to the authorities.
EACC has been investigating 175 high level cases involving top government officials and other leaders including governors, senators and Members of Parliament suspected of being involved in corruption.
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