A middle aged woman was on Tuesday arraigned before the Nyahururu Chief Magistrate, Judith Wanjala on charges of pick-pocketing.
Ms. Wanjiru Wanyama, who at first pleaded to the charges, was arrested on October 5, 2019 at the Subukia National Shrine after she allegedly appeared suspicious.
The court heard that during a national prayer day for the Catholic Church at the Shrine, the police launched a man hunt after receiving complaints of missing items from a section of the congregants.
The police recovered five phones and several purses with cash and identification documents on Wanjiru who could not give an account of how the items had reached her possession.
The court was told that the phones that were recovered on Wanjiru were yet to be claimed by their respective owners, with the purses remaining as evidence against the suspect despite having identification documents.
“I was arrested with only two cellular phones,” she exclaimed in her defense, claiming that she was arrested alongside four others who after parting with some cash, were released by the officers.
She told the court that the other items were sourced from her accomplices and pinned on her after she failed to raise the bribe amount.
Surprised by her testimony, the magistrate ordered that she be released on a bond of Sh.100, 000 and a surety of a similar amount.
The case will be mentioned on November 12.
By Kevin Waweru/ Anne Sabuni
