Embassy was used to traffic drugs, court told

By LUCIANNE LIMO

Nairobi, Kenya: The Venezuelan embassy in Nairobi was used to traffic drugs, a court has heard.

A witness testifying in the murder trial of former acting Venezuelan envoy Olga Fonseca, told the court that he was aware that the embassy was used to traffic drugs using the diplomatic bag.

Kevin Lameck, who was a former driver of Fonseca, said the alleged trafficking of drugs occurred during the tenure of the previous envoy, Gerardo Carillo.

He said Carillo was sent away after sexual harassment complaints were lodged against him by staff at the embassy.

He said Dwight Sagaray acted as envoy before Fonseca was deployed to replace Carillo, a move that angered both Sagaray and his co-accused, Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed.

Lameck, however, said Sagaray was not allowed to open the diplomatic bag when Carillo was the ambassador.

The State told the trial court that Sagaray and Mohamed, with the help of embassy guards, killed the envoy on the night of July 26 and 27 last year.

Lameck told the court after the death of Fonseca, Sagaray invited Mohamed and made it possible for him to access the embassy’s residence and offices despite the fact that he was not an employee.

The witness told the court that Carillo was not liked by the staff as he was fond of sexually harassing them.

Hearing resumes in April next year.