Two police officers were arraigned before a Nakuru court on Wednesday to answer to theft charges.
Hassan Chessebe and Kawa Munandi with others who were not before court were accused of allegedly stealing cloths and shoes valued at Sh260,000 belonging to Cynthia Jerotich in her shop in Kabarnet on August 6.
Munandi was charged on a second account after the investigative officers found him in possession of a brown suit case worth Sh2,500 which Jerotich identified as it one of her stolen property.
Their lawyer made a bond application to urge the court to give a reasonable bond terms saying that the accused are police officers and they have no reason to abscond court proceedings.
State Counsel Hillary Songoyo told the court that the suspects were entitled to bond for various compelling reasons and they are police officers but the court must not make assumption that they will be able to attend court.
According to the prosecution file, a Kabarnet clothing and shoe shop owned by an MCA was broken into on the night of August 5 and 6 and goods loaded into two ‘matatu’ vehicle that was heading for Nakuru.
The first vehicle containing sacks and suitcases had one suspect who said he lived at the prisons and was then interrogated by one Anthony who is a prison warder at Nakuru Gk prisons after passengers’ suspicion why he had such bulky goods.
He was challenged to name his boss but he did not, the passengers and the matatu driver Duncan Kibet agreed that he be dropped at central police station.
The passengers also called complainant Jerotich upon inquiring at Kabarnet and found out that her shop was broken into same night.
Upon arriving at Nakuru show ground junction, the passengers and matatu crew decided to hand him over to the patrol police officers and it turned out that the officer did not arrest him.
The second matatu was intercepted at Mangu roadblock and the second suspect arrested and was charged. A search was conducted at police officers’ houses after they had switched off their phones prompting the OCPD to order for their arrest.
Appearing before Senior Principle magistrate, Liz Gicheha, they pleaded not guilty and were were released on a surety bond of Sh80,000 and an alternative cash bail of Sh30, 000.
The case will be mention of August 20 and heard on September 24.