In an application that is coming up for determination by court on Thursday morning, the DCI says the baby stealing syndicate exposed by the BBC recently involves many players, and not just the health workers.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) wants Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital boss Emma Mutio and two others detained so that police can complete investigations into theft of babies at the facility.
In an application that is coming up for determination by court on Thursday morning, the DCI says the baby stealing syndicate exposed by the BBC recently involves many players, and not just the health workers.
Ms Mutio, who is the CEO of the hospital is in police custody together with the administrator, Dr Regina Musembi and social work Makallah Fred Leparan.
Chief Inspector Wanga Masake from Kilimani police station on Wednesday told a magistrate court that the DCI received information that the three suspects were engaging in child trafficking. The stolen babies are mostly trafficked within Umoja and Embakasi estates, said Inspector Masake.
While appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi, the officer said the arrest of Dr Mutio and Dr Musembi happened following information obtained from Mr Leparan on their involvement in the crime.
Mr Masake said in the BBC expose’ clip the hospital was mentioned on sale of babies for between Sh100,000 and Sh300,000.
The court heard that the clip showed Mr Leparan negotiating with an undercover journalist in a well-planned plot to sell a child who had been abandoned at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital.
From the same source, the court heard, Mr Leparan is seen receiving a substantial sum after handing over three abandoned children to the journalist. The children were later found at Imani Rehabilitation Agency.
“We have reasons to believe this is a well organsed criminal gang that is operating within the country whose other players are yet to be established,” said Mr Masake. He wants court to allow the detectives to hold the suspects for ten days, saying the application for detention is in good faith.
The two doctors are believed to have aided Mr Leparan in the commission of the crime, the court heard.
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