16 suspects comprising bodaboda riders, matatu drivers and conductors accused of robbery with violence and sexually molesting a female diplomat on Forest Road have been detained for 15 days to enable detectives to complete investigations.
This is after Milimani Principal Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe said that the application by the DCI is merited and ordered the 16 suspects to be held at Gigiri police station to allow completion of investigations.
In his ruling, the magistrate noted that the nature of the matter brings up controversy and police should be accorded necessary support to conclude investigations.
“Police should be accorded necessary support to conclude investigations in this matter to charge those they feel are the culprits herein. It may well be that a good number of the suspects were not culpable and may be exonerated by the police investigators or through the court trial. l am satisfied that the application is merited,” the magistrate ruled.
The DCI through inspector Yvonne Mwanzia had sought 20 days to detain the suspects but the magistrate granted them 15 days on grounds that the suspects have been in custody since Tuesday.
“Since the suspects have been in custody since March 8, 2022, I shall grant 15 days,” the magistrate ruled.
The suspects were arrested following a viral video showing the complainant being attacked on March 4.
Mwanzia told the court that the victim, who is a Zimbabwean diplomat, reported the incident at the Parklands police station.
She has however not signed a P3 form as she is undergoing treatment and counselling following the traumatizing incident.
