Trader accused of crushing boy's genitals with pliers arrested

Police in Mwingi North yesterday arrested a businessman accused of torturing a student he claimed stole Sh6,000 from him.

The trader based at Tseikuru market reportedly crushed the secondary school student’s private parts with pliers.

Police had a hard time controlling a crowd that was baying for the suspect’s blood.

The officers later managed to take the suspect away but under a hail of stones from locals who wanted to lynch him.

Residents had surrounded the man’s house in Tseikuru Town where he locked himself up after he allegedly attacked the Form Three student at Kalonzo Secondary School.

The officer who headed the team that rescued the businessman, Chief Inspector Joseph Mwangi, said they had already launched investigations into the incident.

Mwangi said the suspect will remain in custody to protect him from locals, who have vowed to lynch him.

WILD CROWD

“The crowd went wild and was ready to attack him before we arrived. It took us hours to rescue the suspect,” he said.

He said the victim was initially taken to Tseikuru District Hospital before being referred to Mwingi Level Four Hospital for X-ray examination.

“The matter was reported to us and we have taken the necessary action. We will determine the next course of action after investigations and after we get a medical report from the hospital,” the officer told The Standard.

The victim was reportedly staying with his elder brother in Tseikuru town during the current  school holidays when the incident happened.

“The businessman claimed the boy stole the money from his house after he had sent him to collect a document for him. That is when he is said to have squeezed the boy’s testicles with pliers. The boy denied stealing the money,” a witness said.

By last evening, tension was still high in the area, with residents hoping the suspect would be released so they could ‘discipline’ him.

However, others warned the police against releasing him for fear he would be lynched.