Maverick Aoko freed on Sh100,000 cash bail on cyber harassment charges
Blogger Scophine Aoko Otieno alias Maverick Aoko Otieno. Courtesy photo
Blogger Scophine Aoko Otieno alias Maverick Aoko Otieno was on Monday charged before a Milimani Court with publishing false information on her 'X' social media handle.
The court released her on a Sh100,000 cash bail after pleading not guilty to three(3) counts of publication of false information.
The three included publishing false information, cyber harassment and fraudulent use of electronic data.
According to the charge sheet, on August 3, 2024, Ms Aoko is said to have published false, defamatory and threatening information touching on one Beth Wambui Mbuitu popularly known as Amber Ray and 'Jamal' in a tweet that was described as malicious, false, and well-planned to harm the complainant's reputation.
“Maze it disorients me to say this.. But Amber Ray is innocent. She did not ruin marriage ya Jamal Amira.. Beth did..She’s the daughter of a powerful cop so if you find me thrown Kware, refer to this tweet… Ask how Jamal moved from Makanga wa South C to Matatu boss… Ndio naanza,” the post read.
“She did this knowing it to be malicious, false and well-calculated to cause fear, panic and destroy the reputation and professional career and livelihood of one Beth Wambui Mbuitu,” the court documents stated.
The remarks, according to the charge sheet, contravened Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act of 2018, which states that if found guilty, a person faces a Sh5 million fine, a 10-year prison sentence, or both.
“A person who knowingly publishes false information in print, broadcast, data, or over a computer system, that is calculated or results in panic, chaos, or violence among citizens of the Republic, or that is likely to discredit a person's reputation, commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding Sh5 million or ten years in prison, or both,” reads a portion of the Act.
Her mobile phones and laptops were confiscated from her during the arrest and are now exhibits and can't be released at this stage.
The matter will be brought before court on September 2, 2024, for pre-trial.
