Court reduces bond for two rugby players on rape charge
Rugby players, Alex Mahaga Olaba (left) and Lawrence Frank Wanyama in a Nairobi court where they were charged with rape.
What you need to know:
- Lawyer Wafula Simiyu said his clients were unable to raise the money since there are jobless.
- The two denied that they gang-raped a woman identified in Highrise area.
- Through their lawyers, the two players pleaded with the court for lenient bond terms.
A Nairobi court has reduced bond terms for the two national rugby team players facing a gang rape charge.
Lawrence Frank Wanyama and Alex Mahaga Olaba will now each be freed on a Sh500,000 bond with surety or a Sh100,000 cash bail.
This is after Wanyama and Olaba applied for a review of the Sh1 million bond and Sh500,000 cash bail earlier granted to them.
Their lawyer, Wafula Simiyu, told the court that his clients were unable to raise the money since there are jobless university students.
Mr Simiyu further stated that the two Kenya 7s players depend on appearance allowances to meet their needs.
“We pray for a lenient bond term. The accused are unable to raise what had earlier been granted to them,” He added.
They were charged on Monday before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi and denied that they gang-raped a woman identified in Highrise area.
The court heard that the two committed the offence on February 11, 2018.
Through their lawyers, the two players pleaded with the court for lenient bond terms.
Mr Ratemo said the two were ready to deposit their passports with the prosecution or in court and would ask for the court’s permission to travel when they are called for national duty.
The Kenya Harlequin players said they presented themselves to the police last Friday when they were summoned to the Kilimani Police Station.
“They are not a flight risk and we are willing to abide by the conditions placed by the court,” Mr Ratemo said.
The prosecution said it has seven witnesses set to testify in the case.
The court said set the trial for May 16.
