Punjani wife sues State over Nyali home raid
Suspected drug baron Ali Punjani’s wife has sued the government, over the anti-narcotics raid in their Nyali house early last month.
In a miscellaneous application filed at the Shanzu Law Courts yesterday, Karki Sushmija sued the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), among others, over the seizure and confiscation of valuables at Punjani’s Kenol residence during the raid.
Sushmija is seeking for orders to compel the police to hand over title deeds, money in foreign currencies, cheque books, logbooks, keys of vehicles, laptops, and passports, among other items seized during the raid.
She argues that at the time of the raid, she was the one in the house while her husband was undergoing treatment in India.
The petitioner, through her lawyers, said the search and confiscation of some of the valuables was a violation of their fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution.
Hold items
“The seizure of valuables and confiscation of personal documents, money, title deeds, logbooks, and cheque books, among other valuables, was a violation of my fundamental rights,” she said.
Sushmija has further submitted that the actions of the officers acting on the instructions of the first respondent, were unlawful, and were done out of malice.
“Despite the petitioner having not been given an opportunity to ascertain the items seized from the premises, police have continued to hold the items despite the court ordering for the unconditional release of the items,” reads part of the application.
The matter is listed for inter-partes hearing tomorrow after Shanzu Resident Magistrate ordered the petitioner to serve the respondents.
The raid was supervised by the then county commander Johnstone Ipara days after Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i toured the region.
