Armed robbers kill Japenese national

By Philip Mwakio

Mombasa, Kenya: Japanese national working for a firm contracted to put up Mombasa port’s second container terminal was killed during a botched robbery in the coastal city.

Mr Satoru Ogawa, 55, died less than 100m from the gate of the construction site at Port Reitz.

The robbers are said to have fled with a bag they thought contained money, which the deceased had withdrawn from a bank. He was carrying Sh2.7 million, which he had withdrawn from Bank of Africa, Changamwe branch.

The bag was found intact with the cash next to his body. Changamwe OCPD Joseph Muthee told The Standard that three men, two who were armed, had trailed the deceased who rode from the bank in a vehicle.

Escaped unhurt

“One of the robbers, who was unarmed had used a handcart to prevent the vehicle from proceeding to the port site. When the driver of the van stopped, the man was shot,’’ the OCPD said. He added that the driver of the vehicle escaped unhurt.

Police and journalists had a rough time at the scene as Japanese nationals, believed to be the deceased colleagues manhandled them. A scene of crime police officer, who was in civilian clothes, suffered same fate.

He was ordered by Japanese nationals to identify himself before he was allowed to take pictures.

“The robbers carried the wrong bag and fled using a motorbike,’’ the police boss said.

Kenya Ports Authority Head of Security Major (rtd) Mohamed Morowa said the deceased worked for East Marine Company sub-contracted by Toyo Construction Company, which is putting up the second container terminal at the port.