Defilement suspect face six fresh charges

A man who jumped bail in a defilement case five years ago was yesterday charged afresh.

Morgan Otundo (pictured) pleaded not guilty to six fresh charges read to him by State Counsel Gacharia Muriithi before Principal Magistrate Samson Temu.

He is accused of defiling six girls at a children’s home in Nambale Sub-county.

According to the charge sheet, Otundo was the caretaker of Mercy Children's Home between June 2012 and November 2013 when he seduced and had sex with a 13-year-old girl, named GI.

Otundo is also said to have committed similar acts with HA aged 17, EC aged 16, BR aged 15, and VK and VR, both aged 11 years.

Police have been searching for the accused after he jumped bail. He was arrested on January 4 by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in his hideout in Kayole, Nairobi.

Otundo was first charged before Busia Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogolla on August 4, 2014. He was granted bond of Sh300,000 before he disappeared.

Two months later, the court issued an arrest warrant.

Mr Muriithi said Otundo posed a serious flight risk and urged the court not to grant him bail. Otundo did not oppose the request.

“I don't want bond. There was a problem and that is why I disappeared. My life was in danger. I want to stay in custody,” he said.

Mr Temu ordered that the accused remain in remand. The case will be mentioned on January 23 while hearing is slated for February 18.

Elsewhere, a 21-year-old man suspected of defiling and killing a Standard Four girl in Homa Bay County will be detained for 10 days. Kenneth Onyulo was arrested in connection with the rape and death of Tiffany Achieng’ at Lwanda B village in Ndhiwa on December 28.