By Standard reporter

A Belgium-based French national was Thursday charged with defilement and detained at Shimo La Tewa Prisons after failing to secure bail.

It also emerged that Allain Robert Perniaux, 59, holds a French passport that expired on July 15, by which time he was expected to have left Kenya.

Perniaux was arrested on Wednesday at an exclusive neighbourhood in Serena Mombasa after neighbours and guards raised the alarm.

He is accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old Class Two pupil, whose mother was also arrested and charged for aiding her alleged molestation for financial gain, on diverse dates between 2010 and July 24. Allain has lived in Kenya for two years in the neighbourhood dominated by affluent Western pensioners.

On Thursday the suspect, who was unrepresented, denied two counts of sexual molestation when they were read to him through a French interpreter.

When police arrested him on Wednesday they claimed they had recovered video and pictorial evidence of the alleged illegal acts.

Prosecutor Chief Inspector Paul Makonge told the Court in Shanzu that the suspect holds a French Passport EH 799652 which expired on July 15. The passport indicates the suspect was born in Belgium on May 21, 1953.

“He should be given hefty bail with a Kenyan surety since he is a foreigner and I am afraid he might jump a cash bond,” argued the prosecutor.

Makonge said the prosecution intends to call seven witnesses including a doctor.

SH1 million bails

Senior Resident Magistrate Timothy ole Tanchu imposed a bail of Sh1 million and a Kenyan surety of similar amount and fixed three days of trial to run consecutively from July 23 to 25.

Allain pleaded for lenient bail claiming he has no money but the magistrate declined urging him to look for a Kenyan friend to bail him out.

Perniaux looked composed and was assisted through a translator, Stephen Onyango, of the Stefan and Associates (Kenya).

He wore a pair of blue Jeans, a baggy shirt and open shoes.

He came to the court  driving a  Subaru but had to leave it at the court’s parking yard  after he was  remanded.

After the brief court appearance, he was handcuffed  by two police officers and  taken to  Shimo la Tewa.