- Add new comment
- 312 views
A man accused of being behind a con scheme targeting MPs was on Tuesday arraigned in court to face charges related to fraud and extortion.
The court ordered the suspect be detained for four days to allow police to conclude investigations on extortion allegations facing him.
Resident Magistrate Christine Njagi also directed mental tests be carried out on Waziri Benson Mazubo alias Waziri Chacha at the Mathare Mental Hospital and the report be tabled before the court.
This was after the 25-year-old's lawyer, Job Ngeresa told the court that his client has been seeking treatment for mental illness.
“Your honor, I beseech the court that the respondent be taken for mental assessment. He has a brain tumor,” said Ngeresa.
Chief Inspector John Kiprop, who is leading the investigation team, pleaded for more time from the judge, saying the suspect is also under probe for soliciting cash by posing as a government officer.
Chacha was apprehended on Sunday morning in Tarime, Tanzania after a well-coordinated operation between police of the two countries, Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti said.
Kinoti said that Chacha was headed to the Democratic Republic of Congo when he was arrested, but his lawyer refuted the claim noting that Chacha was on his way to seek treatment at Mwibiri Hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Chacha is alleged to have used a fake Mpesa account registered in the name of Murang'a Woman Representative, Sabina Chege to extort cash from MPs, Cabinet Secretaries and other top State officers.
The matter will be mentioned on April 9th.
Comments
Wacha zako. This is not a matter of mental illness. Manoki hawezi plan the way he planed and executed his plans successfully. The is a con-artist
In a separate case, recently learnt that mental illness by itself is not enough defense. The accused must proof to the judge that S/he was not mentally capable of planning the incident. If one has mental capacity to plan, the judge can postpone the case, and commit the accused to mental treatment. For the conman, given the level of planning involved, including sending the two young men to collect from Jakoyo, no chance of getting out on mental incompetent. He might be sick, but definitely the mental capacity to plan and execute.