Mandera police in civilian killing case to be tried in Garissa

A gavel. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Aden Boru Golicha is accused of shooting to death Yussuf Ali Adan within Mandera town under unclear circumstances.

A police officer suspected of shooting to death a civilian will be charged before Garissa High Court once investigations are completed, a Mandera court has ruled.

Mr Aden Boru Golicha is accused of shooting to death Yussuf Ali Adan within Mandera town under unclear circumstances.

In a sworn affidavit, Mr Meshack Mumo, a police officer attached to DCI Mandera sought five days to hold the suspect to complete investigations and to transport the suspect to Garissa.

The suspect is said to have committed the crime on October 15, 2017 but was arrested on Wednesday.

A police source told Nation that the matter had been left in the hands of clan elders but the victim's family involved law enforcement agencies.

“Usually the locals here have ways of solving such cases and we gave them time to solve it but they failed and the only option was to arrest and formally charge the suspect,” said the officer on anonymity condition.

The suspect is a corporal stationed at Mandera Police Station and is said to have shot and killed Adan while off duty. He is also accused of injuring another civilian during the shooting incident.

Witnesses said the altercation ensued between the suspect and the civilian after his vehicle had been blocked by a taxi within Metameta area of Mandera town.

The DCI applied to hold the suspect at Rhamu Police Station some 80 kilometres away from Mandera, arguing that it was the suspect's own security.

“I have been in Mandera town since the incident happened and I don’t see why I should be taken to Rhamu when nothing has happened to me,”

said Mr Golicha while opposing his detention at Rhamu Police Station.

Mandera Resident Magistrate Dancun Mtai ruled that the suspect be held at Rhamu and be presented at Garissa High Court before August 15.