Police Defend Release of Aggravated Defilement Suspect, Cite DPP Advice

Police in Mbale City have defended the release of a suspect in an aggravated defilement case involving a five-year-old girl, saying the decision was made on the advice of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after prosecutors found insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.

The case has attracted public attention following allegations that officers at Nakaloke Police Station mishandled the investigation and unlawfully released the suspect. According to police, the incident was reported on June 8 by the child’s mother, Ms. Jennet Chebet, who alleged that her five-year-old daughter had been defiled by a boda-boda rider identified as Isaac Nambale.

Elgon Regional Police spokesperson Rogers Taitika said the complainant told investigators that she had hired Nambale to transport her and her daughter home. Along the journey, she reportedly asked him to stop so she could answer the call of nature. She alleged that while she was away, the rider left with the child. Police said the suspect gave a different account during investigations, claiming he had disagreed with the complainant over transport fare and rode with the child to Nabweya Police Post to report the dispute and seek assistance in recovering his money.

According to Taitika, the officers at Nabweya referred the suspect to the Central Police Station. The suspect reportedly decided to return the child because it was getting late and handed her over to fellow boda-boda riders, who later contacted the child’s mother. Police said the mother later reported that after returning home, she discovered the child was bleeding from her private parts and immediately reported a case of aggravated defilement.

Investigators subjected the child to a medical examination, which confirmed injuries to her private parts. The suspect was also arrested and medically examined, with samples submitted to the Government Analytical Laboratory for forensic analysis. Taitika said the investigation file was subsequently forwarded to the Resident State Attorney for legal guidance. After reviewing the evidence, the prosecution advised that there was insufficient evidence directly linking the suspect to the alleged offence.

“The decision to release the suspect was made on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions and not by Nakaloke Police,” Taitika said. He added that because the incident occurred on June 8, police could not continue detaining the suspect indefinitely without sufficient evidence to support prosecution. Taitika stressed that investigations remain ongoing and assured the public that the suspect would be re-arrested if new evidence emerges linking him to the alleged offence.