Men Who Robbed Police Officer of AK-47, 30 Bullets Sentenced to 7 Years

A Mombasa court has sentenced two men to seven years in prison each over the robbery of a police officer’s AK-47 rifle and 30 rounds of ammunition at Bonje Industrial Park in Jomvu, Mombasa.

The two men, Pius Oketch and Kellas Wanyonyi, were convicted after a prosecution by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Principal Prosecution Counsel Godfrey Ngigi presented evidence which linked Pius and Kellas to the alleged robbery of the rifle which belonged to a police officer.

According to the court, police constable James Kobia was attacked while guarding the industrial park together with private security guards.

The Robbery

During the incident, the thieves overpowered the police officer and managed to take his AK-47 rifle, which was already loaded with thirty rounds of ammunition.

A private security guard was also robbed of his mobile phone during the same attack.

According to the prosecution, investigators followed leads after the stolen mobile phone was answered by one of the people who stole it.

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This helped the police to be able to establish links between the two individuals who were believed to be part of the robbery of the police officer.

Apparently, Kellas had recruited several casual labourers and allegedly informed them that they had secured some work at night to load goods at the industrial park.

The group that was recruited went to the industrial park a few moments before the robbery took place.

Arrest Of Suspects

Three days after the robbery took place, police officers were able to arrest Kellas, who then led them to the residence of Pius at Nacrol estate.

Upon reaching where Pius lives, the police officers found him hiding in the ceiling of his house.

They later recovered the AK-47 rifle and the thirty rounds of ammunition which had allegedly been concealed in a sack.

Pius was facing charges of possession of a firearm without a licence, conspiracy to commit felony and possession of property that belongs to the government.

The court then gave them sentences of two and seven years according to their charges but ordered them to run at the same time.

Sentencing

As a result, Pius will serve a seven-year prison sentence for the crimes he committed.

Kellas was convicted of conspiracy to commit a felony and was also sentenced to a seven-year prison sentence as well.

During the trial, the two accused people denied the charges, claiming that they had been framed by the police, but the court found no evidence on the matter.

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The prosecution had called 17 witnesses who helped the court to prove the charges against the two accused people.

After the ruling, Pius and Kellas were informed that they can appeal their case within fourteen days, as it is their constitutional right

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Court Hammer
PHOTO/DPP