Bernice Mbugua @BerniceMuhindi
State House Digital Communications Director Dennis Itumbi yesterday denied making a false document without authority.
Itumbi is accused of making a letter dated May 30, 2019, purporting it to be a genuine document made by a Cabinet secretary a fact he knew to be false. He was also charged with publishing a false statement.
According to the charge sheet, on June 20 at an unknown place, he published the letter with intent to cause anxiety to the general public a fact he knew to be false.
Stringent term
Itumbi was also accused of reprogramming mobile phone. The court heard that not being a manufacturer of mobile phone, he intentionally interfered with the operation of mobile phone, a Samsung Note 9.
Prosecution counsel Jacinta Nyamosi asked the court to issue stringent terms to Itumbi, saying the charges were serious in nature. “This is a serious matter of public interest, we request for stringent bond terms,” she told the court.
She further asked the court to retain his passport and court to order him not to discuss the case on social media or anywhere.
His lawyer Katwa Kigen told the court that Itumbi had complied with the conditions which had been granted to him in the miscellaneous application after he had been released on Sh100,000.
He asked the court to release him on similar terms and the prosecution to give back the phone.
Katwa said they also need to carry out their own independent forensics on the phone.
The prosecution, however, told the court the Samsung phone which was allegedly reprogrammed will be used as an exhibit and will not be given back.
The magistrate had also ordered Itumbi to be reporting once in two days excluding the weekends for the next nine days at Muthaiga Police Station.
Senior principal magistrate Kenneth Cheruiyot ordered Itumbi to be released on Sh100,000 cash bail which he had deposited in the miscellaneous application.
Social media posts
He also declined to bar Itumbi from posting anything on social media, saying the rule that governs what public statements can be made about ongoing legal proceedings (sub judice) applies to everyone and not necessarily the parties in the case.
The case will be mentioned on August 5 for pretrial while hearing is set for September 2 and 3.
