The Kilifi Deputy Governor (DG), Gideon Saburi appeared before a Mombasa Court on Monday to answer to charges against deliberately spreading the Coronavirus for defying to self-isolate himself after a trip abroad.
Before the Chief Magistrate (CM), Edna Nyaloti, the prosecution asked for the DG to be locked in for 14 more days at Manyani prison pending completion of investigations.
His lawyer, George Kithi told the court the suspect flew into the country on March 9, 2020 when the government had not issued the self-isolation directive.
Kithi said his client was not certain about the conditions at the prison facility for his health and safety therefore the jailing extension was not necessary.
The lawyer told the court the DG was tested on the March 23 and 26 and tested negative for the Corona virus and there was no evidence that the DG ever tested positive for the disease.
“We do not have evidence of the suspect ever contracted the disease or infected anyone,” Kithi told the court.
The DG was arrested at the Coast General Hospital on Sunday after he was reported to have recovered from COVID-19 disease.
Saburi was diagnosed with the disease 17 days ago and was forcefully quarantined following a directive by the government after he failed to self-quarantine.
The Health Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe announced on Thursday last week that the DG was given time to recover before the charges were laid before him.
Saburi had traveled abroad when the country had issued travel restrictions to countries affected by the Corona virus but he defied the directive.
Detectives drawn from the coast region pounced on Saburi on Friday March 3, 2020 after a three hours wait at the Coast General Hospital in his isolation ward with handcuffed and led him to Manyani prison.
By Joseph Kamolo
