Fred Leparan, a former social worker at Mama Lucy Hospital who was accused of child trafficking at the facility two years ago following an exposé by the BBC, has been found guilty.

Senior Principal Magistrate Esther Kimilu at Milimani Court determined that Leparan was also involved in a conspiracy. In her ruling delivered on Wednesday morning, the magistrate stated that the prosecution had successfully demonstrated that Leparan had participated in three meetings where discussions regarding the sale of a child took place.

The magistrate's verdict was that the first accused (Leparan) was guilty of both conspiracy to commit a felony and the charge of trafficking persons. However, the second accused, Selina Adundo, was acquitted of the two charges as she was not implicated in any of the recorded evidence.

Both Leparan and Adundo were convicted of negligence in connection with the third count.

Magistrate Kimilu noted that there was evidence indicating that Mama Lucy Hospital's medical social worker office had failed to notify Embakasi Children's Home about the stolen babies, contrary to the standard procedure of informing such institutions of abandoned or received children.

Furthermore, Leparan was found to have misused his position by giving children to unauthorized individuals, providing clear evidence of his involvement in child fraud and trafficking.

Defense lawyer Danstan Omari requested a pre-sentence bail and probation report and an extension of the existing bail or bond terms for the accused until sentencing. The prosecution opposed this application and requested an expedited date for mitigation and sentencing.

The court denied the extension of pre-sentence bail, and both Leparan and Adundo were remanded in Industrial Area and Langata Women's prisons, respectively.

Mitigation and sentencing for the case are scheduled for September 26.

In January, Leparan and Adundo were ordered to defend themselves in court. Senior Principal Magistrate Esther Kimilu, in her ruling, concluded that there was enough evidence to warrant a case against the two.

During the trial, Leparan denied receiving Sh300,000 from a BBC journalist for the sale of babies at the hospital. He faced five counts related to child theft and a child trafficking syndicate at Mama Lucy Hospital.

In his defense, Leparan explained that he had not engaged in the illegal sale of babies at the hospital and described the legal processes he followed.

A BBC journalist, Peter Murimi, who testified virtually, detailed how he exposed the child trafficking scheme at Mama Lucy Hospital in Nairobi in 2020. Murimi explained how Leparan, the hospital's social worker, sold a baby boy to a childless woman for Sh300,000. The BBC, acting as whistleblowers, was represented by lawyer Kigen Robison in the case.

Murimi recounted that Leparan was reluctant to accept the cash, which was the proceeds of a child sale, which indicated his awareness of the illegal nature of the transaction. Leparan also expressed concerns that allowing the "client" to enter the hospital to collect the child would arouse suspicion. Eventually, the baby was delivered to the interested party waiting in a car outside the hospital.