Six charged over Sh6.7m bank heist

BY LAWRENCE ALURU
Six suspects have been charged with stealing Sh6.7 million belonging to Kenya Commercial Bank.

The accused persons were driven to Siaya Court under tight security, where they faced robbery with violence charges in connection with the cash that was stolen while on transit to Kisumu.

Danson Wahome, George Mutiso, Moses Weringa, Soita Wafula, Solomon Lebembe and Constant Ojiambo were also charged with violently robbing a police officer of a G3 rifle with 20 rounds of ammunition, valued at Sh96,000.

The six allegedly committed the offence at Rang’ala along Kisumu-Busia Highway on April 30 while armed with firearms, and in the process wounded an Administration Police Constable.

All the six denied the charges before Siaya Resident Magistrate Mr Jared Sani.
The suspects who had an advocate, Mr Charles Ochieng, applied to the court to have their case moved to Ukwala Court.

Ochieng argued that Siaya court had no jurisdiction in hearing their case since the accused allegedly committed the offence at Ugunja district that is within the Ukwala Court’s jurisdiction.

The magistrate ejected the application, saying the magistrate at Ukwala court was not sitting at the time and the court therefore had the jurisdiction to hear the case.

The court also rejected the accused person’s application to be released on bail. They are to remain in police custody, pending the conclusion of the investigations into the incident.

They are expected at the magistrate’s court on May 9 at the Ukwala court, when the matter would be mentioned for further orders.

Police officer in charge of CID operations in Nyanza told The Standard after the court session that two of the accused were arrested in Nairobi while the rest were arrested in Ugenya District following police operations.

Mr Bosire said that Sh5.1 million of the stolen money and the G3 rifle have so far been recovered and further investigations are ongoing to net more suspects.

The gun was found abandoned with 20 bullets by police in Mumias in Lusheya Village.