DCI Seeks Court Order to Retrieve Swallowed Memory Card in Fake Titles Case
A DCI officer is seeking a court order to detain a suspect at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) to retrieve a memory card he allegedly swallowed in a bid to conceal evidence in a fake titles syndicate.
State prosecutor James Gachoka urged that Joel Kakuli Mwangangi be escorted to KNH to have him examined and the memory card retrieved from his bowel.
During the arrest, Mwangangi swallowed a memory card in a bid to hide evidence where he was later escorted to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport anti-Narcotic unit to assist in its retrieval, but it was not successful,
“We are therefore seeking an ex-parte order to the Chief Executive Officer KNH to assist the victim retrieve the memory card for his health purposes.
Gachoka said Mwangangi who was arrested on Friday alongside five others Benedict Mwangangi Ngala, Vincent Boaz Owang, Titus Wambua Kithuku, Sylvester Mwanzia Mwanthi, and Eric Omondi Ojwang needs to be interrogated to establish their role in making fake title deeds and allotment letters of land for various counties.
“Police recovered 399 fake title deeds for Mweiga/Block 5/Muthuini Parcel No. 543 and other places,” Gachoka told the court.
The prosecutor urged that detective Nicholaus Osuri Otieno be afforded 30 days to complete Investigations for the offences of conspiracy to defraud, forgery of official documents, forgery of stamps, forgery of allotment letters, obtaining registration through pretences and uttering false documents.
Gachoka prayed for the police to be given ample time to complete Investigations which would bring to the fore the syndicate of manufacturing fake titles and allotment letters,
“Police have established that there are compelling reasons to warrant their detention to give police time to complete Investigations.” He said.
He added that on August 1, 2024, the court had allowed police to search the premises of the six suspects to recover evidence concerning land documents.
He said the investigators suited the residents of the six respondents from where they recovered assorted documents, printers, and rubber stamps.
Their search led them to Anpemu House within Ngara where Mwangangi and Kakuli operate.
From the said offices Milimani chief magistrate Bernard Ochoi heard that police recovered printers, assorted rubber stamps, flash disks, printing papers, TV monitors, assorted certificates of titles printing papers, unimprinted goat skin, assorted deed plans, and plot numbers.
The magistrate heard that police recovered correspondence from the director of surveys director of land administration Chief Land Registrar, assorted registry index maps, assorted gel ink pens, 15 printed certificates of titles without land records inserted, and searches for land records among other items.
Defence lawyers led by Felix Kiprono applied to have the suspects freed on bond saying there are no compelling reasons to warrant the incarceration for 30 days.
Kiprono said the nature of Investigations can be conducted while the suspects are out.
The magistrate will deliver the ruling on the matter today at noon.
