Detectives re-arrest remandee after three months of 'freedom'

A robbery with violence suspect who escaped from lawful custody while at Murang’a Level Five Hospital has been re-arrested. Isaac Wachira Mwangi is facing several robbery with violence charges in various law courts in Central Kenya alongside three others who escaped in March. It remains a puzzle how Mwangi dashed to freedom leaving behind the handcuff that was chained to his hospital bed.

Detectives acting on a tip-off traced him using mobile phone signals after it emerged he was in constant communication with his accomplices David Kinyua Kairu, Moses Maina Ndegwa, and Jane Wanjiru at the Murang’a GK prison where they are being held.

A source divulged that the remandee was fished by the detectives from a lodging facility in the Githurai area in Nairobi where he was working as an attendant and was using his girlfriend’s mobile phone to communicate with the remandees and other accomplices. The detectives are working on the information to establish where the remandee got the key to unlock the handcuffs and if the wardens were involved.

Interestingly,  Mwangi, who is said to be a former policeman, escaped hours before he underwent surgery after he had requested Kangema law court to order prison authorities that he be taken to hospital for treatment. The four suspects are facing robbery with violence charges in Kandara, Kangema, and Nyahururu law courts, with investigations centred on who helped him in the escape.