A Mombasa-based woman has been slapped with a 40-year jail term after being found guilty of trafficking prohibited drugs worth Ksh275 million.
The woman identified as Fatuma Ahmed, was sentenced following a judgement made by Principal Magistrate Martin Rabera and delivered by Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), the Mombasa-based woman has also been asked to pay a fine of Ksh600 million.
ODPP, in a statement on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, explained that the woman was jointly charged with her late husband, Swaleh Yusuf, for trafficking drugs valued at Ksh275 million.
After listening to both sides, Principal Magistrate Martin Rabera noted that the prosecution had provided compelling evidence, including testimonies from officers who had conducted the raid at the accused’s residence.
“There is no evidential gap to suggest that the exhibits were tampered with or planted, having reviewed and analysed all the evidence, I find the charges against the accused proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The accused is hereby convicted as charged,” Magistrate Rabera ruled.
Prosecution’s side
In the ODPP’s statement, the prosecution led by Senior Counsel Barbara Sombo told the court that on September 20, 2018, at a housing estate in Kilifi County the husband and wife together with others not before the court, trafficked narcotic, drugs namely heroin weighing 91,738 grams and valued at over Ksh275 million.
The prosecution further noted that the said drugs were seized in the public presence and further lined up various witnesses to corroborate their story through testimonies.
“They concealed the drugs in two brown suitcases and a gunny bag stored within a residential house,” a statement released by ODPP on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, read in part.
“This act was in direct contravention of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act,” it added.
Charges against husband dropped
During the hearing of the case, ODPP reported that Fatuma’s husband was discovered dead forcing the court to drop the charges. Before his death, the court had placed him on his defence after the prosecution established a prima facie case against him.
He was however discovered dead after a report of the missing person was filed.
