Tob Cohen Murder: Sarah Wairimu Asks Court to Free Her So She can Fight for Multi-Million-Shilling Property

Sarah Wairimu, the prime suspect in the murder of her husband Tob Cohen on Monday requested the court to release her on bail so she can be able to fight for her share of the multi-million-shilling property she co-owned with the Dutch tycoon.

Wairimu, through her attorney Philip Murgor, told the court that she has a pending divorce case where she is fighting for 50 percent stake in the estate she jointly owned with her husband.

She indicated that their Kitusuru home, which is valued at Sh400 million, risked being grabbed since no one is living at the house.

"Wairimu's housekeepers were chased away after the body [of Cohen] was retrieved," Murgor stated according to Standard Digital.

Murgor dismissed reports appearing on a local media claiming that the slain billionaire businessman had bequeathed the palatial house to his sister, Gabrielle Van Straten.

The lawyer further submitted that the prosecution, which is opposing Wairimu’s release, has no valid reasons to continue detaining his client.

On Monday, Justice Jessie Lesiit ordered Wairimu be held in police custody until September 26th, when she will be arraigned for plea taking. Justice Lesiit further directed that mental assessment be done on Ms. Wairimu within seven days.

Ms. Wairimu is accused of killing Cohen between July 19th and July 20th within Nairobi County jointly with others, according to a charge sheet presented in court.

The body of Cohen was found inside an underground water tank at his Kitisuru home in Nairobi last Friday. The tycoon had gone missing on July 19th, 2019.

Before his disappearance, Cohen and Ms. Wairimu were embroiled in a bitter divorce case involving a multi-million-shilling property. Cohen, who had lived in Kenya for 32 years, had also sued Wairimu for assault.