City student threatens to sue varsity over fake bomb arrest
A Multimedia University student who was arrested a few months ago on suspicion of assembling an Improvised Explosive Device has threatened to sue the institution if it does not apologise and compensate him for damages.
Mr Joseph Kamau Ngugi said he was unlawfully arrested and detained by the institution’s chief security officer Francis Mugambi, who he also alleged maliciously published his pictures on social media.
The student’s lawyer Mbugua Mureithi said: “The said arrest and detention of our client was carried out despite his vehement protestation and pleas for verification that the alleged IED was in fact a fake prop that his colleagues had made as part of their examination course work.”
But in a reply letter, the institution said the student was arrested by police after they were notified by the university.
Vice Chancellor Festus Kaberia also denied that the university published any materials saying whatever was released to the public was not the fault of the institution.
The student said that on the day of his arrest, the security officer shared on Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter, pictures of him, having been detained and sitting on the floor of the security officer’s office.
‘TERRORIST BOMB MAKER’
“The Publication of the said pictures, the alleged IED, the student’s national Identity Card that originated from the chief security officer were calculated to cast me as a terrorist bomb maker or a dangerous criminal,” the student said.
The student said that the publication of the materials were reckless, malicious and deliberately intended to bring him ridicule and lower his reputation.
“We demand that you immediately admit liability for the unlawful detention and the libelous publications, render an apology and thereafter, we may discuss the issue of quantum of compensation damages,” he said.
In a reply letter, however, the institution said that the student was arrested by police officers after being notified by the institution.
“The police conducted investigations and found that there was reasonable evidence to conduct more investigation during the period that the student was arrested.
“It appears following the police investigations that a decision was made that the evidence evaluated could sustain a criminal charge and subsequently your client was charged in a court of law,” Vice Chancellor, Prof Festus Kaberia said.
Meanwhile, Kamau told journalists that he wants justice because his reputation had been damaged.