Forensic Trail from Stolen Phone Links Suspect to Dutch Tycoon’s Murder

A forensic investigation into the 2021 killing of Dutch businessman Herman Rouwenhorst has traced a stolen mobile phone to a man accused of taking part in the attack, linking him to the scene of the crime and to the victim’s widow.

The High Court in Mombasa heard that the RealMe C11 phone, originally belonging to Rouwenhorst’s wife, Riziki Ali Cherono, was reactivated with a new SIM card the day after the murder. The SIM, registered under the name Mohamed Khalid, was later connected to a man identified by several aliases, including Timothy Omondi Ngowe, Rashid and Tony Ochieng.

Chief Inspector Raphael Wanjohi testified that data recovered from the device created a digital trail that led investigators to Ngowe. He allegedly used stolen identity documents and maintained regular contact with two women, Mary Ambani and Mercy Masika, before and after the killing. 

Investigators used location data and call records to place him at the Rouwenhorst residence in Shanzu on the night of 3 June 2021 and the following morning.

Prosecutors argue that the attack was a planned operation involving several people.

In her statement to police and in court, Ambani admitted helping Ngowe gain access to the house and claimed that Cherono had discussed the plan during a birthday gathering days earlier. Ambani alleged that Cherono let her into the home and later allowed Ngowe to enter, clearing the way for the fatal assault.

Rouwenhorst and his security guard, Evans Pole Bokoro, were found dead at the property. A post-mortem report showed that the businessman died from blunt force trauma and strangulation. Cherono, who was inside the house at the time, initially said her phone had been stolen during the attack. 

Investigators later discovered she had switched to a new number the day after the killing and that her previous line had been deactivated the evening before the incident. Call records showed that Cherono’s original number had been in contact with Ambani’s line, which was later linked to the SIM card inserted into the stolen RealMe device. 

The pattern of calls and connections suggested coordinated communication between those involved. Detectives also traced Ngowe to a house in Kiembeni, shared with Masika, where they recovered the stolen RealMe phone and an Infinix handset with an Airtel SIM card active at the time of the murder. This SIM card had previously been paired with the stolen phone, further linking Ngowe to the case.

In court, Wanjohi described Cherono’s initial interviews as evasive, saying she avoided eye contact, appeared nervous and gave vague answers. He said the forensic findings supported suspicions that she had knowledge of the events that led to the killings.

The trial before Justice Wendy Micheni is ongoing, with the prosecution presenting a case built on phone records, location data and witness statements to establish a coordinated plan behind the murder.