56 teenagers face underage drinking charges in Taveta
Taveta Police Station where 56 minors are being held after they were arrested in a restaurant in the town on Sunday. PHOTO | LUCY MKANYIKA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Police in Taita charged 56 minors with underage drinking on Monday.
The minors were arrested on Sunday at Veteran Club and spent the night at Taveta Police Station
The suspects, who consist of students from primary and secondary schools within and outside the Taita Taveta County, had come together for a back-to-school party when they were arrested.
Taveta Resident Magistrate Geoffrey Kimang’a ordered the police to take the minors to Taveta Sub-County Hospital for age assessment before they are presented in court to answer charges.
Parents and guardians of the teenagers thronged Taveta Law Courts where the teenagers were arraigned. PHOTO | LUCY MKANYIKA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Mr Kimang’a also ordered the Probation and Children Department to present a detailed report to the court on each of the suspect before May 8 when the case will continue.
He also ordered the parents of the minors to be present in court.
The children will continue to be in police custody until May 8.
In the same court time, the manager of the club Silas Ovoringwa was charged with selling alcohol to underage children.
Taveta Law Courts where 56 teenagers were charged with underage drinking. PHOTO | LUCY MKANYIKA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
He denied the charges and was released by the court on a cash bail of Sh1 million or surety of Sh5 million.
Donald Omondi, a prosecutor, sked the court to give Mr Ovoringwa a stringent bond term so that he does not skip court dates.
Mr Ovoringwa’s case will be mentioned on May 14.
Taveta police Joel Chesire said officers are hunting for the owner of the clubso that they can press charges.
