17 witnesses to testify against 5 police officers accused of killing suspect in custody
Seventeen witnesses are set to testify against five police officers charged with the murder of Caleb Esipino Otieno.
The five officers, Khalif Abdulahi Sigat, James Muli Koti, Joseph Odhiambo Sirawa, Edward Kongo Onchonga, and Nelson Nkanae are alleged to have murdered Otieno who was in custody at Changamwe Police Station, Mombasa in 2018.
According to Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Otieno died hours after he was arrested on suspicion of having illegal alcohol – Changáa – at Mikindani on September 18, 2018.
“The police had arrested and booked Otieno at around 8 pm, for allegedly being drunk and disorderly,” IPOA said in a statement.
The deceased is said to have been arrested at Changamwe Police Station and died while in police custody, a public inquest was required prior to arraignment in exact accordance with Sections 386 and 387 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Laws of Kenya.
They contend that if this application is certified as urgent, the orders for quashing the information upon which the current proceedings are based as well as an order referring this matter to an inquest before any charge and subsequent criminal proceedings before this honorable court, “the Respondent shall not suffer any prejudice.”
A post-mortem conducted by Government pathologist Johansen Oduor confirmed that the deceased suffered a series of injuries before he died.
The case that is being led by Peris Maina & Dela Wilbey began on 13/09/2021.