US man tells court he was sexually assaulted at Parliament police post in Nairobi

An American national on Tuesday, August 27, told a Nairobi court that he was sexually assaulted by a police officer while in detention at Parliament post.

Jason Thomas Dorsey was detained at the facility after he was allegedly nabbed taking pictures of Kenya’s Parliament, which is a restricted area.

During his arrest on Sunday, Jason allegedly beat up a police officer in a bid to resist being taken into custody.

The American, who spent two nights (Sunday and Monday) at Parliament police post, was on Tuesday morning arraigned before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi for allegedly assaulting a police officer.

Jason is said to have beaten up George Morara, who was executing his work as a law enforcement officer.

The suspect denied the charge, saying he “only touched” the cop in self-defense.

Jason further told the court that police officers at Parliament post confiscated his headphones and denied him access to medical treatment.

The American also told Magistrate Andayi that while in detention, his private parts were mutilated.

Magistrate Andayi directed Central DCIO to investigate Jason’s sexual assault claim, and present a report to the court on Thursday, August 29.

The magistrate further ordered the suspect be given medical attention and, thereafter, transferred from Parliament police post cells to Central Police Station.

Should he be found guilty of the offence pressed against him, Jason risks spending five years in jail, the magistrate said.

Andayi advised Jason to get an advocate to represent him, given the “seriousness of his alleged crime”.

The suspect told the court that he has been in Kenya for medical treatment, and that his finances have run out, therefore, he can’t afford to hire a lawyer. Jason urged Magistrate Andayi to direct the State to get him a lawyer.

The magistrate told Jason to write a formal letter addressed to the State indicating why he isn’t able to get a legal representative.