Joho bid to block his jail term dismissed
By Monica Kagia
The High Court in Mombasa has dismissed an application by Governor Hassan Joho seeking to stop his sentencing to a six month jail term for ignoring court orders stopping demolition of a multi-million-shilling property in Changamwe.
In a ruling delivered via a video link, Justice Sila Munyao said records prove that Joho was aware of the injunctive court orders barring the demolition of the property belonging to Mombasa tycoon Ashok Doshi.
Justice Munyao further said that Joho was well represented by his lawyers and had been served with a notice to show cause dated May 17, 2019.
“I am therefore not persuaded by the arguments raised in this application that Joho was not served with the application or was not aware of it and that he did not participate in it. In essence, I find no merit in this application. The same is hereby dismissed with costs,” said the judge.
Joho had sought to have justice Munyao suspend the sentence after the judge found the governor guilty of contempt of court.
Through lawyer Ali Mohamed, Joho said the application dated May 17, 2019 was never personally served on him and as such, he is a stranger to the court proceedings.
The court will give directions on sentencing on May 27.
