Suspects in murder of three stay mum

Administration Police officers detained in connection with the murder of three people, including lawyer Willie Kimani, have opted to remain silent during interrogations.

They have refused to answer questions as to whether the lawyer, his client Josphat Mwenda and taxi driver Joseph Muiruri were held at their camp in Athi River on June 23, when they were reported missing after a court session.

Their bodies were discovered in a river at Ol-Donyo Sabuk on Thursday.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet identified the officers as Senior Sergeant Fredrick Leliman, Corporal Stephen Chebulet and Constable Silvia Wanjiku.

“We reiterate that their behaviour is not representative of what the National Police Service stands for and the few rogue elements will always be dealt with firmly according to the law,” he said.

The police boss added they will be charged in court with murder on Monday adding that there is circumstantial evidence linking them to the murders.

Corporal Chebulet and Constable Wanjiku were arrested on Thursday because they were on duty at the camp on the material day.

Their boss, Sergeant Leliman was under investigation by Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) on allegations that he shot Mr Mwenda on April 10, last year.

There are no records at the Athi River AP camp showing the three were booked in the Occurrence Book.

However, Flying Squad detectives have linked the officers to the killings after a note they think may have been left by the lawyer was found at the camp.

“Call this number, we are in danger,” says the note.

The message was scribbled on a tiny piece of tissue paper that was found inserted in an electricity socket at a holding cell at the camp.

The number on the note is the contact of Mr Kimani’s wife.

FABRICATED CHARGES
Investigators who spoke to the Sunday Nation said beside the note there is more evidence that proves there was a “motive and opportunity” to sustain the capital offence.

They are revisiting the shooting incident on April 10, last year. The victims went missing after hearing of the case at the Mavoko law courts.

“This all began on April 10, last year at about 2 pm. Josphat Mwenda, while a pillion passenger on a friend’s motorcycle, was stopped by two un-uniformed police officers, one of whom they later realised was a well-known senior AP officer from the area.

According to eye witnesses, the officer shot Mwenda without provocation, after which the officer transported him (Mwenda) to hospital together with his colleague, and thereafter placed him in police custody,” reads a statement by the Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU) days after the disappearance.

The statement continues: “In an attempt to cover up the shooting, Mwenda was fraudulently charged with being in possession of narcotic drugs, gambling in a public place and resisting arrest.

Curiously, four other officers, who were not at the scene, recorded statements in support of these malicious and fabricated charges.”

Mr Mwenda reported the events to Ipoa. The civilian oversight team is the most feared organisations by rogue police officers who want to avoid accounting for their actions against the public.

Complaints are also lodged with the Internal Affairs Unit of the police, but the latter is considered less stringent in doing its work.

After Mr Mwenda reported the case to Ipoa, he faced further harassment.

“On December 13, 2015, the same officer responsible for the shooting, in the company of other AP officers, picked him up from his home. He was taken to Mlolongo Police Station and charged the following day with six counts of fabricated traffic charges,” the IMLU report also said.

OTHER SUSPECTS
The charges included riding a motorcycle without a helmet, riding a motorcycle without a reflective jacket, carrying excess passengers, carrying un-insured passengers, riding un-insured motorcycle and riding a motorcycle without a driving licence.

Later on February 16, this year he was arrested at the law courts by two men who claimed to be detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The two alleged that they were investigating a robbery with violence case and that Mr Mwenda was a suspect.

Mr Kimani represented him in court as an advocate with International Justice Mission, a Washington-based Non Governmental Organisation.

Detectives are also struggling to establish how the victim’s mobile phone signals were being detected in Kawangware and Bungoma.

They are pursuing a theory that besides the police officers, other people may have been involved. The signals have not been detected for days now, a detective told the Sunday Nation.