Three people were arraigned before a Kiambu court and charged with 3 counts of stealing goods on transit, handling suspected stolen goods and conveying suspected stolen goods.
Peter Macharia Mwangi, Samuel Maina Mwangi and Kelvin Mwangi Maina appeared before Kiambu Senior Resident Magistrate (SRM) Mr. Brian Khaemba and pleaded not guilty to the 3 counts.
The trio were charged that on 19th December 2018 at sports view area in Kasarani within Nairobi county, jointly with others not before court, they stole 400 pieces of ply boards valued at 1, 772, 863, 96 the property of Ruiru feeds limited from a motor vehicle reg. number KBM 372 N Mercedes Oxor trailer no.2D 7145 container no.LMCU 910117-2 while the said property was on transit from ICD Industrial are to P.Q Bisons limited.
The first accused faced a second count of having or conveying suspected stolen property contrary to section 323 of the penal code. He was charged that on 23rd December 2018 at Kenyatta Road River-side in Ruiru sub-county otherwise than in the course of stealing, he dishonestly retained 129 pieces of ply boards knowing or having reason to believe them to be stolen goods.
The second and third accused faced a 3rd count that on 23rd December 2018 at shell petrol station along Thika road in Kasarani within Nairobi county, having been detained by Pc Richard Ruto, Pc Stephen Ngugi as a result of the exercise of the powers conferred by section 26 off the CPC they had in their possession conveying 47 pieces of ply –boards in motor vehicle Reg. no KCC 724 L Mitsubishi canter reasonably suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.
After denying committing the offence, Eric Onderi for the 2nd accused pleaded for lenient terms for his client. He told the court that his client had been co-operative and had pledged to continue in the same vein with the investigating officers. He told the court that his client wished to be released on a cash bail.
The first and third accused also applied for the same terms saying they were family people who were being depended on by their young families for survival. They also pledged to be released on a lenient cash bail and that they would co-operate with the investigating team.
The case will be heard on 19th March and will be mentioned on January 10th,2019.They were all released on a bond of one million or a cash bail of 500,000 shillings.
For the prosecution, MS. Viola Muthoni applied for the release of the production and release of the plywood saying they were delicate and their storage was tricky as they could easily be spoilt in they were kept together with other exhibits at the court premises. She also told the court that trailer was too bulky and that there was no space for it at the court compound.
The court allowed the application and moved to view the exhibits upon which Mr. Khaemba allowed them to be released to the complainant.
By Lydia Shiroya
