Four police officers and two civilians suspected of stealing money from a parked vehicle will remain in custody until Friday 14th June 2024 to allow completion of investigations.
Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo granted the investigators four days to complete the said investigations as opposed to the 14 days sought.
The magistrate noted that the suspects have already been in custody for four days since their arrest on 6th June.
“I have considered all submissions made by the parties and the fact that the respondents have been in custody since their arrest last week, I hereby allow the prosecution application and they will be held for four days only,” the magistrate ruled
The suspects, Sergeant Antony Ndegwa, Corporal Daniel Lekakeny Sunkuli, Police Constable Simon Macharia Maina, PC Antony Mwendwa, Young Wakhisi and Lukas Magoiga Chacha alias Rama (civilians) were presented in court under a miscellaneous application where the police sought orders to detain them for 14 days to allow them to complete investigations.
The suspects were arrested on 6th June 2024 at Kasarani Police Station public parking lot by DCI officers after some pf them were caught on CCTV stealing Sh 2 million from a parked car.
The investigators are looking into allegations of stealing and handling stolen property after the suspects were arrested with thousands of shillings in cash.
According to an affidavit sworn by the investigating officer Inspector Dominick Omondi, Wakhisi and Chacha have been established to the main suspects involved in the theft as captured on CCTV.
The investigator told the court that he requires time to pursue other suspects who are at large and well known to them and also assist in the recovery of the motor vehicle used in the commission of the offence.
The officers also need time to recover the remaining amount and also identify the M-Pesa shops where money was allegedly withdrawn.
Inspector Omondi told the court that on the 3rd June 2024 at around l500hrs, the complainant one Victor Peter Owino, an accountant at Rophine International school made a withdrawal of Sh 2,361,000 from Family Bank (Utawala Branch) meant to pay salaries of casual workers.
After the withdrawal, Owino allegedly procceded to the school located within Mihang’o while driving a Toyota Axio and parked outside the school compound.
“The accountant went inside the school with only Sh 161,000 leaving the rest of the money in the car which he locked safely but after going back for the remaining Sh 2.2 million, he found it missing,” the officer stated.
According to the affidavit, CCTV footage at the school showed a Saloon car reg. no. KCR 595D, silver in colour with three occupants who were seen alighting and gaining entry into the complainant’s car and walking away with a brown envelope believed to be containing the money.
Upon search, the DCI officers recovered Sh 64,000 from Sergeant Ndegwa, Sh 5,000 from Corporal Sunkuli and Sh 49,000 from PC Maina.
The court further heard that a total of Sh 350,000 was recoverd from Wakhisi.
