ASTU officers detained pending arraignment
Two officers from the Anti-Stock Theft Unit have been detained until tomorrow by a Nairobi court pending arraignment in relation to alleged sale of ammunition to criminals in Laikipia County.
Senior Principal Magistrate Samson Temu said officers Joel Githaiga and Martin Murimi will be detained at Muthaiga and Kilimani Police Stations to enable investigators into the alleged crime..
Their detention was allowed after the prosecution said it needed more time to finalize probe against the two.
They are being investigated in a case of having firearms/ammunition contrary to the law.
In an affidavit, investigating officer Nicholas Njoroge attached to the DCI Headquarters states that the two were arrested on April 19 at Nyahururu town in Laikipia county on suspicion of being in possession of firearm/ammunition. The duo are serving officers attached to ASTU C Company.
“The suspects were arrested, escorted to DCI headquarters and upon interrogation, it was preliminarily established that they have been selling ammunition to members of the public within Laikipia county and its adjacent areas to commit criminal activities,” read the affidavit.
The investigating officer says the ammunitions are believed to have been used to commit crimes such as banditry within Laikipia County and other adjacent regions where innocent lives have been lost, people displaced and livestock stolen.
The court heard that the other suppliers and buyers of the ammunition are still at large and there is a need to hold the suspects, conduct further investigations and make more arrests.
The officer said they needed time to recover crucial documents regarding the supply and receipt of ammunition from the involved government security agencies, and record statements from witnesses whom the officers are likely to interfere with.
The investigators said they also needed to subject the recovered ammunition to ballistic for forensic analysis and ascertain whether the suspects were licensed firearm holders from the firearm licensing board.
