BY IRENE ONYANGO
Five guards working for security firm Wells Fargo suspected to have stolen Sh 94 million will remain in custody for 10 days as police complete investigation into the heist.
Milimani Principal Magistrate Zainab Abdul allowed the application made by the Investigation officer seeking to detain the five pending conclusion of investigations.
The five, Ismael Patrick Gitonga, Michael Matolo Njeru, Samwel Onyango Haya, Martin Nderi Nganga and James Mbatia Kariuki were presented to court on Tuesday. They will be held at Capital Hill Police.
The five are suspected to have stolen the millions belonging to Quickmart Supermarkets while on transit to Family Bank Kenyatta Avenue.
The guards are said to have collaborated with unknown accomplices to steal the cash moments after the vehicle commonly known as Ko9 had departed from Fargo House in South C towards the City centre.
Michael Kimilu, the investigating officer told the court that the vehicle was found abandoned with it’s engine running at South C.
Upon search by the investigation team, it was noted that the consignment of cash which had been stashed in three blue metallic boxes was missing and the Wells fargo crew commander Daniel Mungai Mugetha and Anthony Ndiuki Waigumo missing and their phone numbers switches off.
Kimilu further noted that analysis was conducted and a motor vehicle, fielder white in colour had been spotted trailing the said Wrlla Fargo van and later made away with the consignment in 3 blue boxes.
The court heard that the owner of the Fielder Vehicle who happened to be Gitonga was found and arrested in Ongata Rongai.
The vehicle however was traced to the residence of Njeru and was found under modifications by Haya whom upon interrogation, led to the discovery of Nganga’s residence where Sh 9,101,300 was recovered at A1 Roybain heights behind TRM mall on 11th November.
The investigative officer had moved to court to seeking the respondents to be detained for 21 days at capital hill police station to allow completion of investigation as well as recover the remaining cash of about Sh 85 million and trace the runaway suspects.
The defense lawyer, Kepher Ojijo however opposed saying that the accused had been tortured and denied medication while in custody.
“The suspects were arrested on 9th November and since then, they’ve been denied access to neither their lawyers nor their families. The 5th respondent was also assaulted and has been denied medication, ” Said Ojijo.
