March 18, 2024

Court Dismisses Uhuru’s Utterances on Saburi

Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi at the Mombasa law court on Thursday. Image; Mwakwaya Raymond

BY THE COAST NEWSPAPER TEAM
Email; thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi will remain in custody for seven days until April 15, 2020 when the court will rule whether to grant him bond.

The court also dismissed the prosecution’s application to have the accused detained for 14 days at Manyani Maximum Prison saying there was no authentic medical report indicating the DG was infected by Covid-19.

Senior resident magistrate Ms. Rita Amwayi said it will be against the law to detain the accused at the prison saying it was not one of Covid-19 isolation centre and therefore cannot be used to hold anyone.

The accused is alleged to have ignored the government’s directive to self-quarantine on arrival from a coronavirus-stricken country that he denied before the court.

PRESIDENT’S SENTIMENTS
The court took issue with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s sentiments that the accused should be jailed for a period of 10 years citing it as court prejudice.

“Don’t be afraid of the words by the President saying the judiciary is a free and independent institution and cannot by any chance be influenced by any state organ,” the magistrate said.

The defense lawyer George Kithi had submitted to the court that the President’s sentiments are likely to influence the proceedings of the case.

Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi at the Mombasa law court on Thursday. Image; Mwakwaya Raymond

He also argued that the Director of Public Prosecution is also likely to influence the court proceedings due to his sentiments.

The lawyer requested for a considerable bond or cash bail term for the accused when the judge delivers her ruling on Wednesday 15 April. 

Saburi’s lawyer George Kithi walking out of court premise. Image; (Courtesy)

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