Five suspects who allegedly attempted to drill a wall to get into Prime Bank OTC branch, in Kamukunji area have been charged before Milimani law courts.
Reuben Njukia, Charles Mugo, Jesse Muruiki, Fredrick Muderwa and Gabriel Mugai appeared before Chief magistrate Martha Mutuku and denied two counts of committing a felony and breaking into a building to commit a felony.
According to a charge sheet filed in court, the five on July 2 at around 0030 hours at Angle Kenda house bar and restaurant along Ukwala lane in Nairobi, they were not being in their place of abode had with their articles for use for shop breaking namely five Hacksaw, five metal bars, sisal rope, manual driller, briefcase, iron sheet cutter which led to the conclusion that they were there for illegal purposes of shop breaking.
It is said that five accused persons were found in four lodging rooms preparing to break into Prime bank.
In the second count, the five were further charged that on the same dates and place with intent to commit a felony, broke and entered the ceiling roof of Angle Kenda building.
The prosecution through Anderson Gikunda opposed the release of the accused application to be bail or bond pending trial saying that the first accused Reuben Njukia has a similar case before the court where he was charged and released on cash bail in 2020.
Gikunda informed the court that releasing the suspect to society especially the first accused, will give him a chance to continue with their normal criminal activities.
He urged the court to detain Njukia and his co-accused pending hearing and determination of the case.
Magistrate Mutuku however, released four of the accused persons on a cash bail of Sh300, 000 or a bond of Sh 1million plus two contact persons who have been verified by the DCI.
Njukia has been denied bond citing a similar case already before the court. He has been directed to apply for bail after six months.
According to the DCI, the five suspects had rented a room next to the bank where they were drilling the wall before their arrest.
The five who were arrested on Friday morning were paraded at Kamukunji Police Station for the public to see them.
The case will be mentioned after two weeks for further direction
