Ian Njoroge, a suspect charged with three counts before court after being caught on camera assaulting a police officer was molested by officers, the court has been told.
The defense team representing Njoroge on Tuesday June 4, 2024, told the court that officers who arrested him handled him in an inhumane manner.
Laywer Duncan Okatch and Vincent Lempaa while appearing before Magistrate Ben Mark at the Milimani law courts told the court that Njoroge was molested in his house at the time of the arrest.
Furthermore, a short video that went viral online and seen by The Kenya Times showing the 19-year-old being interrogated by the officers was also played in court.
In reference to the footage, the defense argued that it was clear proof of mistreatment since the officers in the video hurled insults at him.
Also Read: Driver in Viral Video Reveals Why He Beat Up Police Officer
“What the complainant did to him in that car, I can say he was manhandled by the complainant. The accused is a first-year student in one of the public universities and he has a future that he is pursuing, he has parents and was arrested in the house of the parents. At the station, he was beaten and the clothes he was on were blood stained,” the defense team told the court.
Njoroge Charged
Lawyer Okatch in his submission further asked the court to grant his client cash bail since he is a student, while Njoroge on his part pleaded not guilty to the charges tabled against him.
Also Read: Motorist Caught in Viral Video Beating Police Officer Arrested
However, the prosecution side asked the court to detain Njoroge for three days to allow the investigating officer to draft an affidavit.
The Court went on to grant the prosecution one day to detain the teenager at Industrial Area prison following the submission in order to prepare affidavit before the case commences.
Magistrate Ben Mark further directed for Njoroge to be escorted to Kenyatta Hospital, accompanied by a parent for medical attention.
The teenager appeared before court after an incident where he was seen in a viral video assaulting a police officer during a traffic stop.
Charges
In the first count, the suspect was accused of robbing off the officer a battery of police communication gadget and a Samsung Mobile phone.
“IAN NGIGE NJOROGE, On the 2nd day of June 2024 at Kamiti Road in Kasarani Sub County within Nairobi County jointly with others not before court robbed No. 67839 Cpl. Jacob Ogendo of battery of police communication gadget and mobile phone make Samsung galaxy note 1 valued at ksh. 50,000/- and immediately before or immediately after the time of such robbery wounded the said No. 67839 Cpl. Jacob Ogendo,” reads part of the charge sheet.
The 19-year-old was dramatically arrested on Sunday evening at a house in Kayole, Nairobi, as part of an operation led by officers from the Kasarani Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
At the time of his arrest, he intimated that his actions came after he was outraged by the traffic police officer who asked for a plump bribe which he could not afford.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel for real-time news updates!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaB3k54HltYFiQ1f2i2C
