Three deny stealing 50kg of tailings

Three men have been charged in Kakamega Law Courts with allegedly stealing 50 kilograms of tailings of unknown value.

Ian Okanga, Eric Shioso and Dickson Atiba denied charges of robbery with violence contrary to section 296(2) of the penal code.

The three appeared before Kakamega Chief Magistrate Julius Ngarngar who granted them Sh200,000 bond each with surety of a similar amount.

“Each accused person is granted a bond of Sh200,000 with a surety of a similar amount. The matter will be mentioned on April 23,” said Ngarngar.

Court documents stated that on the night of March 25 in Ichina village, being armed with dangerous and offensive weapons, the suspects robbed Vincent Lunalo of 50 kg of tailings used to extract gold of unknown value.

Prosecutor Lazarus Sirtuy told the court that he has supplied the accused persons with witness statements he intends to rely on during the hearing of the case.

“I have supplied them with the documentary evidence that the prosecution intends to rely on during the proceedings of the case,” said Sirtuy.  

Sirtuy also told the court that particulars of the offence are that the complainant was sleeping with his family in his house on the fateful night when he was woken up by thugs who had gained access into his house.

“One of the accused was standing in his bedroom next to the door while armed with crude weapons and a very bright torch which he aimed at the complainant and his wife. The complainant then tried to raise the alarm but was threatened by the thugs,” he said.

He told the court the complainant managed to leave the bedroom and found the other two suspects standing in the sitting room.

“He then struggled with them and managed to leave the house and raised the alarm and neighbours responded to his distress call," he said.

“After raising alarm the three escaped to a nearby sugar plantation but were later apprehended to face the charges,” read Sirtuy.