Sh72 Million Nairobi Heist: Six Suspects Freed on Sh1 Million Bond

Six suspects accused of stealing Sh72 million in Nairobi West last week were on Wednesday freed on Sh1 million bond.

In a ruling, Milimani Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi said the prosecution failed to give compelling reasons as to why the accused persons should not be granted bail.

While opposing their release, the prosecution argued that the accused persons were likely to interfere with investigations into the heist as well as abscond court.

The six suspects, who include three police officers, were charged with robbery with violence and destroying property worth Sh1 million that belonged to G4S. They pleaded not guilty.
The six are David Ayienda Mochogu, Duncan Luvuka, Vincent Owuor, Boniface Mutua, Alexander Mutuku and Francis Muriuki.

Their attorney Cliff Ombeta told the court that it was not safe for the accused persons to remain in custody. One accused person displayed wounds he alleged were inflicted by police after his arrest.

“The 2nd, 4th and 5th accused persons were even suffocated using plastic bags … the 6th accused person was taken near Windsor where he was tortured,” lawyer Ombeta claimed.

Magistrate Andayi also directed the accused persons to deposit their passports in court.

The suspects allegedly posed as police officers escorting cash-in-transit from the G4S headquarters along Witu Road in Nairobi.

On reaching Nairobi West, the criminals allegedly held G4S personnel at gunpoint and transferred the cash to another vehicle.

They later demanded passwords for Standard Chartered Nairobi West ATM and withdrew more money and left.

Police have since recovered Sh7 million from two police officers, two vehicles believed to have been used during the robbery and empty bank boxes that contained the stolen cash.