CRE teacher arrested for selling fake exam papers pleads with court to release him on reasonable bail terms

By , K24 Digital
On Mon, 30 Oct, 2023 12:39 | 2 mins read
Nicholas Ngumbau Kalewa, also known as ‘Mr Examiner’, in court. PHOTO/Nancy Gitonga

Nicholas Ngumbau Kalewa, also known as ‘Mr Examiner’, a Christian Religion Education (CRE) teacher at St Lillian Academy in Gikambura, has been charged before with selling fake KNEC examination papers

Appearing before Milimani Chief Magistrate Bernard Ochoi, 23-year-old Kalewa denied one charge of publication of false information levelled against him by the office of the Director of Criminal Investigations.

He was charged between September 1 and October 25, 2023, at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya while posing as ‘Mr Examiner’, he operated over 10 WhatsApp and Telegram accounts where he published false information that he was offering Kenya National Examination papers leakages for 2023.

After denying the offence, the accused pleaded with the court to release him on reasonable bail terms saying he is not a flight risk and will by all conditions set by the court.

The prosecutor James Gachoka said he was not opposed to the release of Kalewa on bond but urged the court to consider the offence facing the accused.

Magistrate Ochoi however ordered Kalewa to be released on a Ksh200,000 bond or a cash bail of Ksh100,000 with one contact person.

The case will be mentioned on November 30, 2023.

The accused person was arrested by detectives attached to KNEC on allegations of selling fake papers to unsuspecting Kenyans.

According to police, 'Mr Examiner' sold the fake examination papers at Ksh1,500 per paper and Ksh2,000 for a complete examination paper with its marking scheme.

To gain the confidence of his customers, the teacher is said to have cautioned the members of his groups against believing people approaching them with exam papers.

He was eventually arrested at Gikambura village, where the detectives recovered SIM cards believed to be used in the fraud.

DCI reiterated that the government and all concerned security agencies had implemented the necessary plans to avoid cases of cheating.

"The Ministry of Education, the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have put up elaborate mechanisms aimed at upholding the integrity of administering the forthcoming KIPSEA and KCSE examination, to avoid cases of irregularities," DCI reported.

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