Court releases 3 on Ksh30m bond for transporting sandalwood

Three people accused of transporting sandalwood were on Friday released on a Ksh30 million bond.

The three, Kennedy Muriuki, Cristopher Muthama and Benard Muriuki, were being held at the Wamba Police Station after they were nabbed transporting sandalwood worth Ksh12 million on November 3rd, 2016 at Ngilai Location in Wamba, Samburu East by police officers who had mounted a road block after a tip off by members of the public.

Upon searching the lorry police found East African sandalwood, which is an endangered species, concealed in manure.

They were arraigned before Resident Magistrate Abraham Gachie of Maralal Court where the prosecution expressed concern that cases of sandalwood sale and destruction have become rampant in Samburu.

The prosecution urged the court to give the accused stiff bond terms reflecting the value of the destroyed trees to send out a warning to other sandalwood exploiters.

The magistrate released them on a bond of Ksh10 million each with surety of similar amount. He ordered that the lorry be grounded at Wamba Police Station.

The case will be mentioned on November 17 while the hearing was set for November 23, 2016.

Written by Lucy Akinyi