A Kakamega MCA accused of deliberately knocking down and running over a woman due to a Sh5000 debt in Kisumu has denied the charge at a Kisumu court.
Lubinus Oduor, the Mayoni ward representative, was Tuesday brought before principal magistrate Eric Obina and charged with causing 25-year-old Dora Ojenge serious injuries along Gor Mahia Road outside Buccaneers Club
An affidavit by the prosecutor, Samuel Wasuna, to have him remanded in police custody for two days to allow the police complete investigations into the incident was denied.
Wasuna argued that freeing Mr Oduor on bail would jeopardise the probe.
“Exhibits used in the incident have not been recovered. A firearm and a vehicle used in the incident have not been recovered,” Washuna said.
He added that Ojenge was admitted in hospital and was in a critical condtion and “there are possibilities we will amend the charges or add others".
Obina refuted the application, saying the reasons were not compelling to warrant bond denial.
He made the ruling after Oduor’s lawyer, Charles Kasamani, opposed the affidavit by the investigating officers to remand his client.
He said the prosecution failed to prove in its application that the MCA was a flight risk person and would fail to appear for his trial.
He also challenged that Mr Oduor on December had surrendered the said firearm to police in Mumias and that “there was nothing to investigate.”
He added that the ward rep brought himself to Kisumu when he heard that police were looking for him.
“He is a public servant and he demonstrated willingness to cooperate with the police by bringigng himself to Kisumu where he was arrested,” he said.
The county lawmaker covered his with a jacket face to avoid journalists’ cameras throughout the session. He left the courtroom stooping with the jacket over his head.
He was released on a bond of Sh100,000 with a surety of a similar amount or cash bail of Sh50,000
The case will be mentioned on January 13 and heard February 26 next year.