Chinese denied bond, to spend Christmas in remand
By MAUREEN KAKAHThe Chinese arrested in Runda were on Wednesday denied bond at a Nairobi court and will spend Christmas in remand.
Acting Senior Principal Magistrate Enock Cherono declined to heed to the pleas of the 40 to be granted bond and remain in their Runda residence for the festive season.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges of running telecommunication system without a license, conspiring to commit a felony and engaging in organized criminal activity on Tuesday when they appeared in court and applied to be released on bond.
In his Wednesday ruling, Magistrate Cherono said the suspects had not shown the court how they entered the country and therefore upheld the prosecution’s argument that they were a flight risk.
The Magistrate said that there had been convincing reasons pointed out by the prosecution to protest the suspects bid to plead for their release on bond pending trial.
“The accused have not shown that they have passports and how they entered Kenya as well as evidence that they are tenants, no particular landlord has appeared in court to claim tenancy,” Mr Cherono said.
ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS
The Magistrate also upheld the prosecution’s argument that if released, they will most likely fly out of the country, interfere with ongoing investigations or help other suspects who have not yet been arrested to take off.
Prosecution through Mr Daniel Karori had told court earlier that the accused are foreigners with no known abode in the country.
Claims which, Mr Cherono said had not provided any grounds as to why they were opposed to being remanded in order for their request to be considered.
“In Kenyan law, Courts decide on the compelling reasons depending on the unique facts presented in the case, in the absence of this, claims by the investigating officer remain unchallenged,” Mr Cherono explained.
According to the Investigation officer Nicholas Kitavi, the accused may face severe charges than the ones they have been currently charged with.
He had told court that the police feared that if the suspects being held are released, the ones still at large may have a lee way to escape with the ones remanded.