November 26, 2024

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Five policemen charged with the murder released on Sh500,000 bond each

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Five policemen charged with the murder of a man in Homa Bay county in September 2017 have been released on Sh500,000 bond each.

 Appearing before Justice W. Kiarie, the suspects; Michael Ochango, Silas Anyira, Bernard Maritim, Steven Owino, and Wycliffe Cheptoo pleaded not guilty.

 The sixth officer involved in the murder, Edwin Moenga, and who has since exited the service is still at large.

Suspects were on November 3 charged with the murder of Silvanus Owinji at Kamenya village in Rangwe sub-county.

Officers had raided the house of the deceased on September 17, 2017 to arrest him for allegedly selling bhang.

 In a statement, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority chairperson Anne Makori said the officers used excessive force during the arrest and inflicted serious injuries on Owinji, which later, were established to be the cause of his death.

The deceased had been transferred to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital after the officer in charge at Rangwe Police Station declined to place him in custody after observing that he needed medical attention.

 Owinji was declared dead at the same facility on September 18, 2017.

 Case will be heard on March 1, 2022 with prehearing of the same set for January 20, 2022.