‘Mathe wa Ngara’ to spend another night in custody as police seek more time to probe drug trafficking links
Businesswoman Nancy Kigunzu alias Mathe wa Ngara arrested in connection with drugs recovered in Ngara, Nairobi, last week will spend another night in police custody, a Nairobi court has ruled.
Nancy Kigunzu was arraigned at the JKIA Law Courts court on Tuesday.
Senior Principal Magistrate Njeri Thuku remanded Kigunzu until Wednesday morning when she will deliver her decision on whether she will allow the police request to continue holding the suspect for five more days pending investigations.
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"Since the submission made by both the state and the defence are lengthy, l direct the suspect be remanded at ICD police station until tomorrow (Wednesday morning) when will render the ruling on the case," Magistrate Njeri directed.
The police urged the magistrate to allow them to continue holding Kizungu to enable them to complete the ongoing investigation into the woman's alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
Kigunzu, who was arrested on Monday evening in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD), has been on the news over the past week after detectives busted drugs and about Ksh13.4 million in cash believed to be proceeds of drug trafficking.
Through Sergeant Stephen Chesire, the state wants the woman detained for five more days saying that the probe into the matter is complex as they need to interrogate her further and have the drugs analysed by the government chemist before they can prefer charges against her.
"The sweets and cookies which were seized from the respondent premises couldn't undergo preliminary laboratory test hence the report will give further directions on this case on the charges to be preferred," Chesire informed the court.
He also told the court that police need to conduct further interrogations which might lead to further arrests of Kigunzu's accomplices who are still on the run
The officer further objected to Kizungu's application for bail, saying she is a flight risk. He argued that the suspect is likely to jump bail and interfere with investigations if granted bail.
"It is in the interest of justice I request Kizungu to be held for five days to enable the investigating officer to complete his investigations," he said.
The defence team led by Danstan Omari and Cliff Ombeta vehemently objected to the request saying it was unreasonable and urged the court to grant their client bail.
Omari stated that the client is willing to cooperate with the ongoing investigations, including reporting as and when required by the police.
"We will endeavour to avail our client as and when required by the police for questioning, she is willing to abide by all conditions set by the court,' Omari stated.
The arraignment of Kizungu comes a day after her two sons were arraigned in court with police seeking five days to detain them to ascertain their age before they are charged with criminal offences of drug trafficking.
This is after one of the sons claimed to be 17 years old. The real age of the second son is yet to be established.
The two were arrested alongside a woman identified as Teresia Wanjiru Wanjiru whom the police thought was the real Mathe wa Ngara.
BY K24 NEWS
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