Ex-Govt official arrested for allegedly forging 4 academic certificates to get job

Ex-Govt official arrested for allegedly forging 4 academic certificates to get job

File image of the EACC headquarters at Integrity Centre in Nairobi, PHOTO | COURTESY

A former senior official at the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has been arrested and charged over allegations of forging his academic documents in order to secure a job.

Zinje Jumaa Mwadama was nabbed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers on Thursday before being presented at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court.

A source at the EACC told Citizen Digital that Mwadama, who worked as an Assistant Inspector at KEPHIS, had earned a cumulative salary of Ksh.4,746,834.38 through the job acquired with fake documents.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Felix Kombo, the accused was charged with 12 counts of criminal offences including forgery, uttering false documents, providing false information to a public entity and fraudulent acquisition of public property arising from forgery of four academic certificates.

The court heard that Mwadama had forged his KCSE certificate, Certificate in Agriculture from the Kilifi Institute of Agriculture (Pwani University), and a Diploma Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development from the Baraka Agricultural College in Molo.

He had also allegedly forged academic transcripts in Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development from the Kilifi Institute of Agriculture (Pwani University).

The accused however denied all the charges and was released on a Ksh.3 million bond or cash bail of Ksh.250,000. The case will be mentioned on 8th June 2023.

The commission has since cautioned against rising cases of academic fraud, noting that that over 150 cases under investigation are forgery related to persons within the public service.

While stating that 14 of the said cases are presently pending in court, EACC urged employers and education institutions to be on high alert to curb the offence.

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Citizen Digital EACC Forgery Citizen TV Kenya KEPHIS

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