Police recruits charged with drug peddling

Three police recruits have been charged at a Nyeri court with being in possession of bhang.

Kevin Obwangi, John Mutie and Oscar Ahiro appeared before Nyeri Chief Magistrate John Oyiego Monday to answer claims of being found with eight rolls of bhang outside the Kenya Police College in Kiganjo on Saturday at around 11pm.

Take plea

However, the accused could not take plea as police and the prosecution asked for more time to complete investigations.

The prosecution, led by Allan Wanjohi, pleaded with the court to be given four more days to finalise investigations.

Mr Wanjohi added that police were likely to include more suspects and prefer more charges.

"The matter is weighty. More people are being investigated and are likely to be brought to court on charges of drug trafficking," the prosecutor said.

Wanjohi said there was a drug ring and a cartel involving other individuals responsible for trafficking of drugs at the police training college.

But the magistrate pressed the prosecution to explain why police required more time.

"What is this offence that you are investigating? It is not right to just inform the court that the police are carrying out investigations," the magistrate said.

He said police ought to have filed a notice of motion or even sworn an affidavit on what they were investigating to warrant more time.

He observed that the court must be satisfied with what was being investigated unless there were other motives, saying someone somewhere was being dishonest.

Use shortcut

"There is somebody who does not want the accused person to take a plea and is being insincere. He is trying to use a shortcut to have them detained," Onyiego said.

He said police had sufficient time from Saturday to conclude investigations and told the prosecutor to advise on the full charges they wished to prefer.

He ordered that the trio take their plea Wednesday.