Two in court over murder of lorry driver, sugar theft

Two people linked to last week’s murder of the driver of a lorry that was hijacked and the sugar he was transporting stolen have denied robbery with violence charges.

The suspects – Ms Alice Anyango Moriasi and Mr Fredrick Juma Ouma – appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Millicent Nyigei on Thursday at Nyando Court in Kisumu where they denied the robbery with violence charges.

But they will have to wait a lot longer to know if the court will free them.

Ms Moriasi faced a second count of handling stolen property which she also denied.

Justice Nyigei released each of the accused on a Sh1 million bond with surety.

They will be detained at Kodiaga Maximum Prison as their bonds are processed.

LORRY DISAPPEARS

In the incident that happened on Friday night last week, the lorry is reported to have been ferrying the consignment from Sony Sugar Company in Migori to Oyugis in Homa Bay when it “disappeared mysteriously”.

Nyanza DCI boss Michael Baraza said they traced the missing lorry to Katito and found the body of the driver, Mr Victor Otieno Odiwuor, locked inside while the 10.5 tonnes of sugar that it was transporting was missing.

Six suspects who include Ms Moriasi and Mr Ouma were arrested on Sunday in Kisumu County after being found in possession of the sugar believed to be part of the consignment stolen from the lorry.

The six suspects were first arraigned on December 31, 2018 but did not take plea after the prosecution requested for seven more days to complete investigations. They were locked for three more days.

STATE WITNESSES

And on Thursday, the prosecution preferred charges against the two suspects and made an application to turn the remaining four to State witnesses.

Justice Nyigei ordered the four to report to Pap Onditi Police Station on Monday next week.

During the proceedings at Nyando court, the accused, through lawyer James Muamu, made an application to have two motor vehicles that belong to them and which are being detained by police to be released.

But State Prosecutor Eunice Rono objected to the application, stating that the vehicles are exhibits in the case and releasing them will amount to tampering with evidence.

“The vehicles are exhibits in the robbery with violence case. They have not been dusted, photographed and equally form part of scene of crime,” said Ms Rono.

The magistrate directed that the vehicles be detained at Pap Onditi Police Station pending a formal application by the defence.

On his part, lawyer Pascal Odhiambo who represented the family of the lorry driver asked the court to consider the matter as grave since a life was lost.

The case will be mentioned on Tuesday next week while hearing will start on February18, 2019.