Stolen rice worth Sh4.1m to remain in 'custody', Nairobi court orders

NAIROBI, KENYA: A magistrate court has declined to release 3,000 bags of rice that is being held for use as exhibits in an ongoing theft case. Eight people have been accused in connection with theft of the 5 Star Rice bags along Mombasa Road in Nairobi.

Hirbo Guyo Giya, Ali Ibrahim and their six co-accused are charged that on diverse dates between April 11 and 15 within Nairobi, they conspired to steal Sh4.1 million of property belonging to Joshua Kirai Inoti.

The goods are alleged to have been on transit from Mombasa to Nairobi.

The accused's lawyer requested the court to give the order for the rice to be released as he was concerned that it might get spoilt by the time the case ends. The lawyer wanted the prosecution to capture the photos of the bags instead of holding all of them.

But the prosecution said it was tedious to photograph all the bags. Magistrate Hannah Ndung'u ordered the bags to remain with the prosecution until the case is completed. The case will be heard on September 1.