Seven Suspects in Assault Case Denied Bail, Will Spend Easter Holidays in Custody
Seven suspects facing assault charges in a Chuka Court have been denied bail and will remain in police custody over the Easter holidays. The prosecution successfully argued that their release could potentially interfere with witnesses in the case.
The accused individuals, Timothy Njagi, Douglas Micheni, Jonathan Nthiga, Elijah Mbaabu, Jane Kawira, Hellen Gacheri, and Zachayo Shem, appeared before Chuka Chief Magistrate John Njoroge for the second time on Tuesday. They were charged with assaulting a 38-year-old woman while attempting to subject her to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The court learned that the arrests were made on April 11, 2019, after Christine Murithi, the complainant’s daughter, reported the incident to Marima patrol base. The police promptly took action.
The prosecution argued that during the attempted act, other offenses were committed, and investigations were still ongoing to gather more evidence and witnesses. This justified the need for additional time. Basilio Murithi, the lawyer representing the accused, argued that his clients would not tamper with witnesses if released. However, the court ultimately sided with the prosecution and denied bail.
Japheth Kiptum, the complainant’s lawyer, supported the prosecution’s stance, emphasizing that the attempted act was against the law. Consequently, the Chief Magistrate granted the prosecution’s request for an extension to conduct further investigations.
The seven suspects will continue to be held at Ntumu police station in Maara Sub County for seven more days. They have been in custody since their arrest on April 11, 2019.
This latest ruling leaves the suspects facing the Easter holidays behind bars, awaiting the next court hearing. As the investigation progresses and more evidence is gathered, the case highlights the severity of the alleged crimes and the determination of the authorities to ensure justice is served.
