Anti-corruption court gets more magistrates

By Charles Ariko and Hillary Nsambu

THE Anti-Corruption Court is to be beefed up by more personnel to widen its scope of operations, the Principal Judge, Justice James Ogoola, announced on Monday.

Ogoola said the court, which already has two High Court judges, will have two additional chief magistrates and four Grade One Magistrates.

Ogoola revealed that the magistrates, to be deployed soon, are currently undergoing training on how to expeditiously handle corruption cases.

Ogoola explained that the magistrates will deal with cases of lower monetary value while the judges will handle the big cases.

Ogoola was on Monday speaking at a ceremony to receive office equipment and computers worth $55,000 from the United States. The equipment is meant to facilitate the operations of the Anti-Corruption Court.

Ogoola explained that the judges had been assigned to the court were being selected carefully and trained in handling corruption cases.

“We had to do a very delicate surgery while choosing personnel. We selected two very senior judges with an impeccable record whom we know have a fearless resolve to dispense justice.”

He said fighting corruption needed people who have a backbone and courage to withstand ‘storms of interference from both internal and external forces’.

Ogoola likened corruption to a cancer for which the Judiciary had found an antidote in the form of the Anti-Corruption Court.

In remarks, Justice J.B Katutsi, who is heading the Anti-Corruption Court, said: “We are ready for the war ahead.”

The Chief Justice, Benjamin Odoki, commended the US government for the donation, saying the equipment would help the court personnel to render swift, decisive and timely justice.

Directing his comments to the Anti-Corruption Court, Odoki said: “I expect you not to give the corrupt any peace of mind, except if they return their ill-gotten wealth, are convicted to serve sentence for their transgressions or are acquitted.”