Tout in court for assaulting policeman, resisting arrest
A Nairobi tout who allegedly injured a police officer after he was found harassing members of the public at a matatu stage has been charged with assault.
Salim Ongwaya is facing charges of assaulting and injuring police constable Christopher Muthama of Shauri Moyo Police Station. He is also facing charges of resisting arrest contrary to the National Police Service Act of 2011.
The accused allegedly injured the police officer at Majengo bridge along Lamu road in Kamukunji sub county within Nairobi on November 14.
PC Muthama and his colleagues were on foot patrol when they found Ongwaya harassing women and forcing them into tuk tuk at a matatu stage and attempted to arrest him for being a public nuisance.
But Ongwaya is said to have resisted arrest and injured PC Muthama during the commotion.
The accused allegedly declined to be handcuffed and shouted that he was doing his work claiming that the matatu stage belongs to him and a youth group.
Other touts and boda boda riders surrounded the police officers prompting them to call for reinforcement patrolling in the nearby market.
They managed to disperse the crowds and Ongwaya was arrested. Ongwaya denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Agnes Mwangi of Makadara Law Courts.
The accused was granted a cash bail of Sh40,000. The case will be mentioned on November 30 before hearing starts on April 25 next year.