Police say robbery mastermind still at large as suspects to know on Thursday whether they will be released on bail

From left: Charles Mwangi Murakaru his brother Halford Munene Murakaru and their cousin Julius Ndung’u Wainaina at a Thika Court yesterday where they were charged with stealing Sh52 million from Kenya Commercial Bank, Thika Branch, last week. [Photo: Kamau Maichuhie|Standard]

Two brothers and their cousin were yesterday charged in a Thika Court with the theft of Sh52 million from a local bank.

Halfred Munene, his brother Charles Mwangi and Julius Ndung’u allegedly broke into Kenya Commercial Bank, Thika branch, through an underground tunnel and stole Sh52,650,000 between November 18 and 20.

The trio was also accused of stealing 95 Australian dollars, 185 Euros, 1,630 British pounds, 271,000 Tanzanian shillings, 947,000 Ugandan shillings, $5,781, five Canadian dollars and 40 South African rand.

They were also charged with handling stolen property.

According to the charge sheet, on November 25, 2017, at Joy Land estate in Juja town, Kiambu County, they handled $1,311, Sh17 million, 340 British pounds, 3,660 Euros, five Canadian dollars, 85 Australian dollars, 40 South African rands and 20,000 Ugandan shillings knowing or having reasons to believe they were stolen.

The accused denied both charges before Thika Chief Magistrate Teresia Murigi.

Their lawyer Opiyo Odegi pleaded with the court to give his clients lenient bail terms since the money had been recovered.

Mr Odegi told the court his clients had a constitutional right to be granted bail as they are deemed innocent until proven guilty.

“The accused are first offenders and are not a flight risk. They have been in police custody since they were arrested on Saturday. When they were arrested, they were submissive to the police and did not even fight back,” he said.

However, prosecutor Stella Oyagi opposed the application, saying releasing them on bail or bond would jeopardise an ongoing investigation.

She said if released, they would interfere with investigations and destroy evidence.

“The accused are a flight risk. We have reliable information that the suspects were planning to leave the country and if released on bail, they may end up absconding court proceedings,” Ms Oyagi said.

But Odegi argued there was no reason for police to continue holding his clients because they “have no intention of leaving the country until the matter is fully heard and determined”.

“Continuing to hold them will be unfair. Justice should be served to both the accused and the complainant,” he said.

The magistrate will on Thursday rule on whether the accused will be released on bail. They will remain in police custody until then.

The suspects, who did not want to be photographed, used their clothes to cover their faces.

Police had a difficult time controlling a huge crowd that had jammed the court room to get a glimpse of the suspects.

Police sources told The Standard that Mr Munene is an Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduate from the University of Nairobi, while Mr Mwangi and Mr Ndung’u are Agricultural Engineering graduates of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture Science and Technology.

Mwangi graduated in 2013 with a second class honours upper division degree, according to a former classmate.

Reports indicated the brothers were brilliant students at Nyeri High School and they both managed an A in their KCSE exam.

There were conflicting reports in the court, with the defence lawyer saying the suspects were arrested in Thika, while the police indicated they were arrested at Marurui in Nairobi County.

Thika Director of Criminal Investigation Linus Owango told journalists outside the Thika Law Courts that the suspects were arrested in Juja and Marurui where the money was recovered.

The charge sheet did not mention Marurui, with only Juja being listed as the place where the suspects held stolen property.

Thika police boss Willy Simba said they arrested the suspects at Marurui following a tip-off from the public.

On Saturday, witnesses said police seized the cash following a morning raid on a house in Juja town, where a woman had moved in last Wednesday.

The police indicated the master-mind of the theft was still at large but they were pursuing him.