Ksh.50 million KCB Thika theft suspects freed

Ksh.50 million KCB Thika theft suspects freed

Three suspects who were arrested in connection with the Ksh.50 million Kenya Commercial Bank, (KCB) Thika Branch heist were on Thursday freed on a bond of Ksh.4 million each and a surety of the same amount.

This ruling on the bond follows an application by the defence counsel, Zacky Odegi, on Monday, November 27, whereby he applied to the courts for his clients to be released on a bond or cash bail.

He defended his clients arguing that the three; Charles Mwangi Murakaru, 30, his brother Halford Munene Murakaru, 32, and cousin Julius Wainaina, 32 did not resist arrest therefore should granted bail.

However, this was objected by the State counsel, Stella Oyagi who cited an affidavit by the investigating officers that stated that the suspects were planning to leave the country adding that their release could also interfere with court proceedings.

On her ruling on the bond/bail application, Justice Murigi stated that there was no evidence tendered before court to show that the release of the three would interfere with the proceedings and that they would be at flight risk once set free.

For this reason, the court had no reason to deny the application by the three to be released on bond/bail.

Murigi quoted Article 49 1(h) stating that accused persons had a constitutional right of being released on bond unless there was a compelling reason not to.

The case will be heard on March 28, 2018 while the mention will be on December 14, 2017.

The suspects were charged with breaking into the bank through an underground tunnel and handling stolen property, both of which they denied.

Issuing her verdict on their bond application, Judge Murigi also ordered that the three should not leave the court jurisdiction without permission.

The trio was arrested at Marurui estate in Kiambu on Saturday, November 25, and led the investigators to Joy Land estate in Juja town where Ksh.17 million of the total cash was recovered.

Tags:

Thika Bank Heist KCB Thika Thika Bank Theft Thika Suspects three suspects

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