A warrant of arrest has been issued against a police officer who handled former Sports CS Rashid Echesa's firearms case.
Senior Principal Magistrate Kennedy Cheruiyot directed the officer's arrest after it emerged that vehicles and firearms that had been seized from the former CS had not been returned.
The magistrate stated that the officer's case would be mentioned on August 3, 2020.
“That warrant of arrest be issued for the investigating officer Pc John Munjama and be directed that the arrest warrant be effected by the County Police Commander Nairobi City County,” stated the magistrate.
Echesa, through his lawyer, told the court that he was yet to receive his car and firearms despite a directive from the court compelling the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to return the property.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had appealed against the ruling compelling the DCI to return the property.
On June 26, a Kiambu court had summoned the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti over his alleged disobedience of the court order.
Echesa’s cars and guns had been impounded in connection with a case where the former CS was accused of participating in a Ksh39 billion fake arms deal.
The police had seized the items during a raid at his house in Karen, Nairobi, on February 13 and 15, 2020.
Echesa sued the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for revoking his firearms licence, confiscating two pistols and cars, including a Range Rover, in March.
Senior Principal Magistrate Stella Atembo had on June 10 ruled that the vehicles; a Toyota Lexus, Ford Ranger and a Mercedes Benz E-350, were being held without sufficient reason.
“The act of detaining property without any support or any law of order of the court with sufficient reasons contravenes the constitution which provides for the right to private property and opportunity to be heard,” Senior Principal Magistrate Stella Atembo ruled at the time.
