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Court orders police to produce Echesa’s vehicle

Friday, September 4th, 2020 18:28 | By
Former Sports Cabinet secretary Rashid Echesa at a past court hearing. PD/FILE

A Nairobi court on Friday ordered the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti to produce in court a motor vehicle belonging to Ex- Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Rashid Echesa who is facing Sh39 billion fraud charges.

At the same time  Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Kenneth Cheruiyot lifted a warrant of arrest against investigating officer detective John Munjama who is handling the Sh39  billion fake military tender involving the former CS and others.

When the matter came up for mention on Friday, the magistrate directed that the vehicle in question be produced in court on Monday for the court to view it before making further orders.

Cheruiyot also lifted the arrest warrant against Munjama after prosecution agreed to avail the vehicle.

Earlier the magistrate had ordered DCI George Kinoti to personally arrest Munjama and arraign him before court to explain why he has not complied with court orders to release the vehicle to Echesa.

The magistrate had amended his earlier order that had directed the Nairobi County commander to arrest Munjama, who is the case investigating officer.

This followed an application by Echesa's defence lawyers Evans Ondieki, Cliff Ombeta and Brian Khaemba that the police are illegally detaining the vehicle which is not subject to the case against their client.

The officer was wanted for failing to release  Echesa’s motor vehicle and two firearms as directed by the court earlier, in an order that was upheld by the High Court while dismissing a revision application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In the application, the DPP had said the items were being detained pending the trial of the criminal case and further investigations by the police.

 Munjama told court that the police suspect that the motor vehicle was unlawfully acquired, hence justification for its continued detention.

On the firearms, he said it was to enable the chairman of the Firearms Licensing Bureau to verify the particulars of the said guns before releasing the same to the former CS.

The two firearms are registered as of make P-Barreta FO 92 and make Ceska while the car is a Range Rover, KCR 786H.

 Echesa returned to the magistrate court complaining that the officer was yet to comply with the order, and as a result the magistrate issued the warrant of arrest to be effected by the chief detective.

The magistrate directed Mr Kinoti to produce the officer in court for sentencing because of contempt.

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