I told falsehoods to get ID card, says defilement suspect

A defilement suspect yesterday claimed he lied about his age to get a national identification card before he reached 18 years in order to seek employment.

Boss Baya Yaa (pictured), who is accused of defiling a 17-year-old girl, told Malindi Resident Magistrate Olga Onalo that he had lied he was eligible for an ID card and that his age was currently 22. According to his ID, the man is now aged 28.

“I lied about my age so that I could get employed and help my family,” he said.

He denied the charges and was released on a Sh200,000 bond with a surety.

Baya, who said he was an orphan, complained that the bond terms were too stiff and, at his age, he could not raise the money.

Prosecuting Counsel Njoki Keng’aara, however, insisted on the bond issued by the magistrate.

During the bond ruling Ms Onalo said: “The bond terms are lenient in the circumstances. Talk to your family to see if they can raise that bond and if they fail, then you are free to come to court and plead.”

The accused is facing two counts of defilement and indecent act. He was charged that on October 17, 2018, at Timboni in Malindi sub-county, Kilifi County, he intentionally assaulted the minor.

The case will be mentioned on March 8, 2019. The hearing will start on June 20, 2019.