BY IRENE ONYANGO.
A senior policeman based at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has failed to plead to a charge of stealing gold worth over Sh54.2 million.
This is after inspector Peter Omollo Owiyo asked Milimani Magistrate Robinson Ondiek through his lawyer Danstan Omari to postpone the plea taking.
His lawyer vehemently opposed the plea taking. He told the court that Omollo is an officer of over 30 years in the service and the defense intends to write to the Director of the Public Prosecution Noordin Haji for a review of the decision to charge him.
“We will need time to take instructions and advise the accused of the charges preferred against him,” lawyer Omari told the court.
Lawyer Omari further told the magistrate that pleading to the charge will trigger an interdiction from the service and even after acquittal, being returned into the payroll is a nightmare.
“The defense is pleading for the accused to be given that window, if the review goes through, he would have avoided the death sentence of his career,” Omari pleaded with the court.
In his detailed submissions, lawyer Omari said Omollo is still a police whose records are with the police, still a serving officer that’s why he came in without handcuffs,because of his standings and his willingness to comply with the court,the plea should be differed as he looks for available means of defense.
The officer was ordered to deposit Sh.50 000 in court awaiting a decision from the DPP on whether to review and drop the charges against him.
He is expected to appear in court on the 25th of April, when the court will be updated on the progress made as he persuades the prosecution to drop the charge against him.
The charge sheet registered in court states that Omollo conspired with others not before court conspired to steal gold bars weighing 6,483 kilograms valued at USD408,229 equivalent to Sh54,294,457.00 from Shanmugam Shundar Darmaraju.
It is alleged that he committed the offence on diverse dates between 30th of March and 4th April this year.
