A Mombasa court convicted and sentenced two men to each serve seven years in prison for their role in the robbery of a police officer’s AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds of ammunition during a night attack at Bonje Industrial Park in Jomvu, Mombasa County.
The convictions followed a successful prosecution by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), through Principal Prosecution Counsel Godfrey Ngigi, who presented evidence linking Pius Oketch and Kellas Wanyonyi to the robbery.
Senior Resident Magistrate Hamlick Muriithi Mwenda found the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court heard that a gang attacked Police Constable James Kobia, who was guarding the industrial park alongside private security guards.
The officer was overpowered and robbed of his AK-47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition.
One of the security guards was also robbed of a mobile phone.
Prosecution presented evidence showing how investigators pieced together crucial leads that ultimately led to the suspects. One of the stolen mobile phones was answered, providing investigators with information that helped establish a network of individuals connected to the robbery.
Evidence further showed that Wanyonyi recruited several casual labourers under the false pretext that they had secured night work loading goods at Bonje Industrial Park. The group proceeded to the premises shortly before the robbery.
Three days after the incident, police arrested Wanyonyi, who led officers to Oketch’s residence at Narcol Estate. Investigators found Oketch hiding in the ceiling and recovered the stolen AK-47, its magazine and all 30 rounds of ammunition concealed in a sack.
Oketch faced charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, possession of a firearm and ammunition without a firearm certificate, and possession of government stores.
He received sentences ranging from two to seven years, which the court ordered to run concurrently, resulting in an effective seven-year custodial term.
Wanyonyi was also sentenced to seven years for conspiracy to commit a felony.
The magistrate rejected the accused persons’ claims that they had been framed by police officers, finding no evidence of personal grudges or fabrication of evidence. The court noted that the 17 prosecution witnesses provided compelling evidence supporting the convictions.
Both convicts were advised of their right to appeal against their convictions and sentences within 14 days.
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