Two suspected drug traffickers will continue staying in police custody after a prosecutor changed charges against them and requested additional time to conduct proper investigations.
Felix Ouma and Elijah Ongoro, who are being charged with trafficking 745 grammes of heroin with a value of Sh2.3 million, are being held in police custody with the prosecutor’s request.
On Monday, the prosecutor substituted the earlier charge of possession of the narcotics with that of trafficking them.
The officer asked the court to extend the application to remand the two suspects on grounds that they would interfere with witnesses and jeopardise investigations.
“The investigating officer has said that there were many people in the trade and the substituted charge sheet is a testament to this. Releasing these people in bond may jeopardise investigations,” said the prosecutor.
Last week, Chief Magistrate Lucy Gitari granted the prosecution three days to complete the investigations, adding that the suspects were under no constitutional obligation to aid the police with the investigations, and had a right to be released on bond terms.
They had initially been charged with possession of 300 grammes of heroin with a market value of Sh900,000.
“We are committing to expedite the case. The investigating officer has told me that they are on the verge of arresting more suspects; we therefore ask this court to deny the two bond until investigations are complete,” added the prosecutor.
The case will be heard on a later date.