No trial yet for police officers accused of murder

Tana River, Kenya: Three policemen detained last week over the mysterious death of a motorcycle boda boda operator in Tana River County have not been brought to trial, The Standard has established.

Police constables Benson Mulinge, Michael Rotich and Osoi Sakimba are held at Hola Prison in Tana River County and reports show that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) might have sought a court order to continue holding them in order to complete investigations.

According to Khalif Abdi Farah, CEO of rights group Northern Forum for Democracy, which documents Rights violations in Northern Kenya, Ibrahim Isaak Gutu disappeared after his arrest by police and his mutilated body was later found dumped in a thicket on June 1.

Body dumped

“Gutu was picked up by three policemen in Madogo and his whereabouts remained unknown until his body was found dumped at the Garissa-Hola road intersection. We believe he was tortured to death and are demanding for investigations,” Farah said.

Speaking to the press, Tana North sub-county commander Reuben Loyotoman confirmed that the three officers are still in police custody.

He said the officers were held because investigations were not yet complete adding that local CID forwarded the investigation file to the area OCPD yesterday.

Reports from within the CID department in Madogo and Hola indicate that the deceased was kidnapped by three men and bundled into a car.

It is also alleged that a policeman in Madogo had accused the deceased of having an affair with his wife before he went missing.

Lorry overturns

Meanwhile three people were killed and ten others seriously injured after a lorry transporting mangos from Majengo village in Tana River district to Mombasa overturned yesterday morning.

The three loaders, who were sitting on top of the vehicle, died on the spot after they got stuck under the over turned lorry at the Masalani Bridge along the Tana River- Ijara border.

Confirming the incident, Tana River OCPD Sylvester Githungo said the injured are in critical condition and are currently admitted at the Masalani District Hospital.

He said investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the accident.