Appeals Court Judge Implicated in Dutch Tycoon Tob Cohen"s Murder
A senior Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer has implicated Appeals Court judge Sankale Ole Kantai in the murder of Dutch tycoon Tob Cohen.
John Gachomo, a senior assistant Inspector General of Police based at DCI headquarters, claims the judge actively participated in the planning and cover-up of Cohen’s killing.
In documents filed in court, Gachomo says Justice Sankale held several meetings with Cohen’s widow Sarah Wairimu, who is the prime suspect in his murder.
It is during these meetings held in different locations and places that the murder of Cohen was planned, he claims.
The DCI is accusing agents and officers at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) of attempting to illegally and unconstitutionally terminate the investigation to ensure the judge does not face charges.
“The DPP can only terminate criminal proceedings instituted by his office and not criminal investigations being undertaken by DCI while exercising its constitutional mandate,” reads court papers.
The DCI further claims that the ODPP failed to communicate what evidence was missing in the investigation file presented to them for the judge’s prosecution.
Gachomo alleges that Judge Sankale fraudulently transferred shares of a company that was being run by Cohen from Silas Itas before eventually transferring them to Wairimu
“That investigation further revealed that Cohen never instructed the judge to act for him or his company, hence the transfer of the said share was unknown to Cohen,” court documents state.
He adds that Cohen was murdered two days after he discovered the fraudulent activities between the judge and his wife.
“The discovery of this fraud is the motive of the death of Tob Cohen,” Gachomo adds.
Forensic analysis by DCI revealed that Sankale intensified his communication with Wairimu from July 17th to 19th, 2019 when he was expected to get back to the Registrar of Companies.
“The petitioner portrays the late Tob Cohen as a client and close confidant who entrusted him with a share in his investment yet investigation by DCI found no evidence of contact or association between the petitioner and Cohen,” read court papers.
Cohen, who had lived in Kenya for 32 years, went missing on July 19th, 2019 before he was found dead on September 13th.
His decomposed body was retrieved from an underground tank at his home in Kitisuru estate. An autopsy revealed that the deceased suffered severe head trauma inflicted by a blunt object and died of a blow to the right side of the head.