Drug case put off after witness vanishes
Ms Jane Wambui Wanjiru (left) and her husband Joseph Wanjohi Muthie wait for the hearing of their drug trafficking case at the Kibera Law Courts in Nairobi on Wednesday They were allegedly arrested with 1.8kg of heroin worth about Sh1.8 million on October 16 at Muthaiga North estate in Nairobi. Photo/William Oeri
A crucial witness in a drug trafficking case on Wednesday disappeared from court. Mr Joseph Maina, the landlord of a couple charged with trafficking in heroin worth Sh1.8 million, disappeared during the morning session before he testified, prompting the magistrate to adjourn the case to November 11.
When Kibera senior principal magistrate Grace Nzioka mentioned the case for hearing in the afternoon, the witness was not in court. Of the other witnesses, who are mainly police officers, only one was present.
Summons
An orderly was sent to call the names of all the witnesses outside, but they could not be traced. Chief Inspector Joseph Musyoka, prosecuting, then applied for summons for the witness. Mr Joseph Wanjohi alias Muthie and his wife, Ms Jane Wambui Wanjiru, have denied storing 1.8 kilogrammes of heroin in Muthaiga North on October 16.
Mr Musyoka told the court that Mr Maina had even signed the bond to attend court. The prosecutor said that Mr Maina was in court in the morning and had indicated that he was to travel to Mombasa at 2.30pm. The accused had on Tuesday been denied bond until the case was heard and determined.
