Witness eyeing cash, says Ruto’s defence
What you need to know:
- In the cross-examination by Mr Ruto’s defence, the witness said the stolen cash was an allowance from the office of the prosecutor, and denied seeking compensation.
- The witness said he reported to the witness unit every issue affecting him and had no ill motives.
- The deputy president’s lawyers said the witness had not provided audio or electronic evidence that he was at meetings held at Mr Ruto’s home or campaign meetings in Ndia.
Deputy President William Ruto’s lawyers at the ICC Friday sought to portray witness P-0800 as an opportunist out to reap financially from his dealings with the court.
Defence lawyer Ms Shyamala Alagendra relied on three ICC investigators reports that contained SMS details sent by the witness to the victims and witness unit alleging that he had been mugged and lost Sh2,000, as well as three phones.
Ms Alagendra asked why the witness did not report the loss to the police, saying he wanted to use his position as a witness to get money.
Ms Alagendra: Didn’t the witness unit officials pay you a visit on the same day you were attacked and found that it was a mere fabrication?
Witness: You are wrong.
Ms Alagendra: Did you not send messages to the unit to be relocated from your protected area in Africa to Europe or America and that you would not give evidence if that was not done?
Witness: I always let the unit know that it was risky giving evidence in an unsafe location.
In the cross-examination by Mr Ruto’s defence, the witness said the stolen cash was an allowance from the office of the prosecutor, and denied seeking compensation.
The witness said he reported to the witness unit every issue affecting him and had no ill motives.
Ms Alagendra tore into details of the testimony provided by the prosecution witness.
Mr Ruto’s defence took the witness through the second day of cross-examination, having sought to discredit his two affidavits on Thursday.
He had presented to the court affidavits regarding Mr Ruto’s involvement in organising the post-poll chaos.
The deputy president’s lawyers said the witness had not provided audio or electronic evidence that he was at meetings held at Mr Ruto’s home or campaign meetings in Ndia.
