By Antony Gitonga
NAIVASHA, KENYA: The man accused of masquerading as a senior police officer for years was arraigned afresh in a Naivasha court facing twelve charges including four of robbery with violence.
Joshua Karianjahi Waiganjo was released on bond of Sh4 million with three sureties of similar amounts by Naivasha Senior Principal Magistrate Esther Boke.
The prosecution however informed the court that they had 35 fresh complaints against the accused who was arrested on December 31 last year.
The first charge stated that on August, 17, 2012 Waiganjo alias Jackson Ikumbu while armed with a pistol violently robbed Francis Ng’ang’a off his lorry and personal effects totaling to Sh4m in Kikopey Gilgil.
On the same day the Kikopey, he is alleged to have robbed Dismas Mwangi off Sh2,000 in cash and a mobile phone all valued at Sh9,000.
The third and fourth charges stated that on the August 24, 2012 in Keroche along the Nairobi-Naivasha highway he robbed David Mwai and Francis Mwangi of cash and property valued at Sh222,000.
The composed suspect faced three more charges of being in possession of police uniforms in his Njoro and Gilgil homes which he had unlawfully obtained.
He faced two other charges of putting on uniforms of senior police officers in Naivasha town without written authority.
The last three charges stated that on unknown dates last year he pretended to be an assistant commissioner of police to junior officers in Njoro and in anti-stock theft unit in Gilgil.
The packed court heard that in Gilgil he presented himself to Florence Wanjiku as a senior police officer in Rift Valley with a view of courting her for marriage.
The accused who is represented by lawyers Cliff Ombeta, John Khaminwa, Katwa Kigen and Kibiru Njenga denied all the counts.
The packed court was treated to a heated argument between the prosecution and the defense over the charge sheet and being released on bond.
The lawyers called on the court to dismiss six of the charges against the accused terming the charge sheet as defective.
Lawyer Khaminwa said that the charge sheet had serious flaws and was not consistent with the new Constitutions and should be thrown out.
Kigen on his part accused police of raiding the homes of the accused and forcing his two wives to record statements against him.
Ombeta hit out at the prosecution for charging the accused of committing various crimes on imaginary dates and called on the magistrate to strike out the charge sheet.
The lawyers applied to have the accused released on a free bond saying that he was a law abiding citizen who would avail himself in court anytime.
The prosecution led by Chief Inspector Mike Muya denied harassing the accused family adding that there was no documentary evidence to indicate that he had a wife.
Muya opposed the move to grant the accused a bond saying that he could interfere with wittiness and ongoing investigations.
He told the court that there were three pending arrest warrants against the accused and fresh cases were emerging every day.
The magistrate threw out the prosecution request and gave the accused a Sh4 million bond and three sureties of the same.
She ordered that the accused report every Friday to CID offices Naivasha until further directions.
The magistrate will deliver the ruling on the defective charge application on January 23.
Joshua Karianjahi Waiganjo was released on bond of Sh4 million with three sureties of similar amounts by Naivasha Senior Principal Magistrate Esther Boke.
The prosecution however informed the court that they had 35 fresh complaints against the accused who was arrested on December 31 last year.
The first charge stated that on August, 17, 2012 Waiganjo alias Jackson Ikumbu while armed with a pistol violently robbed Francis Ng’ang’a off his lorry and personal effects totaling to Sh4m in Kikopey Gilgil.
On the same day the Kikopey, he is alleged to have robbed Dismas Mwangi off Sh2,000 in cash and a mobile phone all valued at Sh9,000.
The third and fourth charges stated that on the August 24, 2012 in Keroche along the Nairobi-Naivasha highway he robbed David Mwai and Francis Mwangi of cash and property valued at Sh222,000.
The composed suspect faced three more charges of being in possession of police uniforms in his Njoro and Gilgil homes which he had unlawfully obtained.
He faced two other charges of putting on uniforms of senior police officers in Naivasha town without written authority.
The last three charges stated that on unknown dates last year he pretended to be an assistant commissioner of police to junior officers in Njoro and in anti-stock theft unit in Gilgil.
The packed court heard that in Gilgil he presented himself to Florence Wanjiku as a senior police officer in Rift Valley with a view of courting her for marriage.
The accused who is represented by lawyers Cliff Ombeta, John Khaminwa, Katwa Kigen and Kibiru Njenga denied all the counts.
The packed court was treated to a heated argument between the prosecution and the defense over the charge sheet and being released on bond.
The lawyers called on the court to dismiss six of the charges against the accused terming the charge sheet as defective.
Lawyer Khaminwa said that the charge sheet had serious flaws and was not consistent with the new Constitutions and should be thrown out.
Kigen on his part accused police of raiding the homes of the accused and forcing his two wives to record statements against him.
Ombeta hit out at the prosecution for charging the accused of committing various crimes on imaginary dates and called on the magistrate to strike out the charge sheet.
The lawyers applied to have the accused released on a free bond saying that he was a law abiding citizen who would avail himself in court anytime.
The prosecution led by Chief Inspector Mike Muya denied harassing the accused family adding that there was no documentary evidence to indicate that he had a wife.
Muya opposed the move to grant the accused a bond saying that he could interfere with wittiness and ongoing investigations.
He told the court that there were three pending arrest warrants against the accused and fresh cases were emerging every day.
The magistrate threw out the prosecution request and gave the accused a Sh4 million bond and three sureties of the same.
She ordered that the accused report every Friday to CID offices Naivasha until further directions.
The magistrate will deliver the ruling on the defective charge application on January 23.
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