By WAHOME THUKU

A Nairobi businessman has been charged with conspiring to kill his business partner.

Hiten Kumar Raja presented himself before a Kibera court and denied the charges of conspiring to kill Ashok Rupish Shah early last month.

Earlier, Mr Kumar had obtained an order from the High Court barring the police from executing a warrant issued for his arrest.

Earlier, another suspect Abdulahim Mohammed Shalo was charged with attempting to extort Sh5 million by threats from Shah.

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Police claim he committed the offence between July 1 and August 1, this year through mobile phone text and emails.

Since 2010, Mr Shah, a property consultant, has been a target of attacks, which have seen him escape death narrowly.

Petrol bombed

In May 2010, his car was petrol bombed at Parklands in Nairobi and his driver killed but he escaped unharmed. A suspect was arrested but the Attorney General terminated the case.

The case was later taken over by the Director of Public Prosecutions and fresh investigation commenced.

Shah reported the threats issued to him in the second incidence to the CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro. Police then arrested Mr Abdulahim and also obtained a court warrant to search Kumar’s house in Parklands.

They also obtained a warrant for his arrest and after days of tracking him down the CID placed a notice in a section of the media on August 22, this year, announcing that Kumar was a wanted man and asked the public to assist in apprehending him.

The businessman then filed a petition at the High Court on August 30 and secured an order barring the police from arresting him.

The High Court, however, ordered that he presents himself before the Kibera court on September 4 to take a plea.

Instead, Kumar presented himself on September 3 in the evening and was released on Sh100,000 cash bail or Sh200,000 bond.

He told the court that he intended to travel out of the country.

Police now say they still require him to record statements and have his fingerprints taken. The case was set for mention on September 18.