A Malindi court has directed a couple whose,cash bail went missing in the hands of ,then Malindi DCIO Stephen Ambani to record statements with the Independent policing Oversight Authority ( IPOA)
Malindi principal magistrate James Ongondo made the orders after Ambani who has since been tansferred to Embakasi police station failed to appear before the court during the mention of the case.
The magistrate had ordered Ambani to appear before him to shed light on how Kshs 40,000 that had been deposited as cash bail went missing in an assault case being levelled against Emilio Fioravanti and Ann Kinanu Kaburu.
The state through the office of the director of public prosecution told the court,that Ambani had made arrangements with them to appear virtually and explain to the court circumstances under which the money went missing but later failed.
He however sent a message indicating that he had not received money from the couple.
“Following the new development l hereby order for independent investigations to be conducted by IPOA on the whereabouts of the said money as this is an administrative issue,”he stated
The duo had raised concerns with the magistrate on the missing money since it was never handed over to them following their plea taking two months ago.
According to the suspects the money had been deposited in October 10 last year, however they were never issued with a receipt indicating acknowledgment of the money.
“Upon enquiring on why we cannot be issued with receipts,we were informed that it was during a public holiday and the police receipts were not available since the custodian who is the officer commanding station (OCS)was away,”they informed the court
They stated that they were threatened of being thrown into police cells ,if they enquired on receipts for the money they had paid for their release.
“We were informed that if we would not pay the money without receipts we would be thrown into police cells considering that it was on a holiday and we feared for our lives and parted with the money with no receipts,”the couple informed the court.
The matter will be mentioned on September 12, 2024.
Written By: Peter Maseke.