BY SAM ALFAN.
Devotion PS Julius Kiplangat Korir has been charged with assaulting his ex-wife.
The government official appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi and denied the charges.
Korir has skipped appearing in court several times, forcing the magistrate to issue a warrant for his arrest. His lawyer Nicholas Ombija had opposed the plea taking saying they were still in the process of settling the matter out of court.
He said the PS might also be forced to step aside from his official duties, if the charges are read to him. The Magistrate, however, said her hands were tied and the PS had to plead to the charge.
The matter had come up on Monday morning but the accused did not present himself prompting the state to seek a warrant for his arrest.
The PS lost an application at the High Court seeking to stop his prosecution. The matter has been delayed for several times as he sought for an out of court settlement.
The charges stated he assaulted Everlyne Chepkorir Koech on September 17, 2020 at Ndalat Road in Karen, Nairobi, thereby causing her actual bodily harm.
Through his lawyer Nicholas Ombija, the PS pleaded to be released on bond saying he is a government official and not likely to flee, if free.
Ombija further added that the PS was also sick and placing him in custody would aggravate his condition. He also said that there are obligations which will be disrupted in case the PS is put in custody.
“He is in charge of devolution and there is a conference which is due in May. Being placed in custody will disrupt this forum,” Ombija said.
The prosecution did not oppose his release on bail.
The court issued orders restraining Korir from contacting witnesses after the issue was raised by the complainant.
The court heard that some of the witnesses used to work for the PS when they lived with the complainant as a couple.
The court informed the parties that they can still try out of court settlement at any stage of the case.
He was released on a cash bail of Sh20,000 and the matter will be mentioned on April 19 for pre-trial.
