Devotion PS Julius Kiplangat Korir has been charged with assaulting his ex-wife.
Korir, who has failed to appear in court several times, was charged after a warrant of arrest was issued against him.
The PS is accused that on 17th September 2020 at Ndalat Road in Karen, Nairobi, he unlawfully assaulted Everlyn Chepkorir Koech thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.
The accused denied the charge before Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi.
His lawyers requested the court to release the accused on bail on grounds that he is not at flight risk because he works for the government of Kenya.
Lawyer Nicholas Ombija added that the PS is also sick and placing him in custody would aggravate his condition.
Ombija further told the court that there are obligations which will be disrupted incase the PS is put in custody.
“He is in charge of devolution and there is a conference which is due in May.
Being placed in custody will disrupt this forum, Ombija said.
The prosecution did not oppose his release on bail.
The accused was thereafter released on a cash bail of Sh 20,000 and provide one contact person.
Korir was also restrained from contacting witnesses after the issue was raised by the complainant.
The court heard that some of the witnesses used to work for the accused and the complainant when they used to work together.
Plea taking opposed
Ombija had opposed plea taking saying that if the accused pleaded to the charges, he would have to step aside.
However, the Magistrate noted that her hands were tied and there was nothing she court do.
The matter had come up on Monday morning but the accused did not present himself prompting the state to seek a warrant of arrest.
The magistrate went for a break in order to write a ruling on the same which was to be delivered in the afternoon at 2.30 PM. This is when Korir presented himself in court
The PS had lost an application at the High Court seeking to stop his prosecution.
He also sought an out of court settlement in a bid to avoid pleading to the charges.
However, the process did not yield any fruits.
The court informed the parties that they can still try out of court settlement at any stage of the case.
The matter will come up 19th April for pre-trial.
