A remandee who escaped from a Kericho Law Court holding cell has been sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to the offense.
Langat Philip Kipkorir who had on Thursday pleaded not guilty to arson and attempted suicide offenses appeared on Friday before Kericho Resident Magistrate, Benjamin Limo and was charged with escape from lawful custody.
The prosecution told the court that on 15th November 2018 at around 4.30pm, the accused who was a remandee after taking a plea on earlier offenses, escaped from Kericho court cells where he was held waiting to be escorted to Kericho GK Main prison.
Kipkorir escaped after one of the police officers went to open a cell to flee a traffic offender who was locked in the same cell with him. When the door was opened, Kipkorir allegedly pushed the police officer aside and escaped.
The police officer raised alarm, alerting other law enforcement officers and security guards within the court grounds who pursued the remandee and even fired in the air to scare him.
His freedom was however, short-lived as he was arrested 300 metres away from the court precincts by police and members of the public and escorted to Kericho police station where he was charged with the offense.
In mitigation, the accused pleaded for leniency but the prosecution told the court that Kipkorir ought to be punished accordingly since a firearm was used to stop him from escaping.
By Sarah Njagi
