A court has given police officers until Thursday 4pm to open charges against Ali Punjani’s wife and four others who were arrested at the home of wanted tycoon Ali Punjani in Nyali, Mombasa.
Appearing before Shanzu Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo on Tuesday, the five suspects; Ali Punjani’s wife, two foreigners from Nepal and India, and two others didn't take a plea as the police had not charged them with anything.
Earlier on, the prosecution had requested the court to give them up to seven days to carry out their investigations.
However, the court declined the request and ordered the prosecution to open charges against the five within 24 hours.
Punjani's palatial home in Nyali was raided on Monday by detectives from the office of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) who were searching for drugs.
Mr Punjani has been accused of drug trafficking following reports that he was in competition with the Akasha brothers in the illegal business.
However, the Mombasa-based business tycoon was not arrested during the raid as he is not in the country.
Punjani has been admitted to a hospital in India where he is undergoing treatment for a heart condition.
Interior CS Fred Matiang’i has maintained that the government will not rest until it tames the drug trafficking menace in the country.