Police ordered to seize guns from Sh450m oil theft suspects

By WILLIS OKETCH

Mombasa, Kenya: A Mombasa court has ordered the police to seize two guns from two former Vivo Energy Kenya managers accused of stealing oil worth Sh450 million, which was being transported to Nairobi from Mombasa.

 Japheth Omboko Onganyi and Fredrick Ochieng Otieno, who were in charge of the company’s warehouse, are among  10 suspects who have been charged with the offence. The others are Robert Kibet Cheruiyot, Joseph Kiema Mutiso, Joseph Muriuku Ciriku, David Kipkirui Ngetich, Fredrick Njumwa Mwashinga, Samuel Kiplagat Cheruiyot, Benard Vulunda  Kilonzo and David Mutia Kasina.

 The were charged before Mombasa Senior Principal Magistrate Richard Odenyo that between January 28 and March 18 2013 along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway they stole assorted lubricants valued at Sh450 million, being the property of Vivo Energy Kenya. They, however, denied the offence.

Otieno and  Omboko were ordered to surrender the guns  by Mombasa Resident  Magistrate Jane Kamau following an application  by Corporal Gedion Wamocha from the Criminal Investigation Department in Nairobi. Wamocha said there were questions over the manner in which the weapons were issued to the suspects and that is why the CID director wanted them back.

 “The Director of CID has ordered that the guns in question be seized because it is suspected the circumstances leading to their issue was opaque” said Cpl Wamocha.

He said police want the guns handed over to ballistic experts for further investigation.