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AP officers deny abducting Interpol detective in Nairobi


Two Administration Police officers and a taxi driver were on Monday charged with abduction of an Interpol intelligence officer based in Nairobi.

Interpol (full name The International Criminal Police Organization) is an intergovernmental organization that facilitate international police cooperation.

Constables Wycliffe Omangi Nyakundi and Benson Macharia Wamaitha appeared before a Kibera court and denied abducting Mr Buregeya Athanaze, a Burundi national, from a restaurant along Ngong road, Nairobi on May 25.

The charge sheet stated that the officers, together with Mr Zacharia Gachucha Muthoni, took Mr Buregeya from Capricon Grand Restaurant behind Nakumatt Prestige to Ngong forest where they demanded Sh200, 000 to save his life.

“On May 25, 2016, you forcefully compelled on Buregeya Athanaze from Capricon Grand Restaurant to Ngong Forest in order to put him in a danger of being murdered,” the charge sheet stated.

Mr Athanaze, attached to the regional officer of international police organization, told police in a statement that the suspects threatened him with a pistol.

“They demanded Sh200, 000 or they kill me. I told them I was a diplomat and pleaded with them to spare my life. They told me to sell my car and leave the country,” he stated.

According to police report, the officers took him to a camp near Lenana High School where they changed into police uniform and took him back to the restaurant and ordered him to pay Mr Gachucha, the taxi driver.

The three suspects denied the charges before Resident Magistrate Jane Kamau and alleged that police confiscated their mobile phones.

“They are police officers and these charges came up when they were discharging their duties,” a defence lawyer told the court.

Ms Kamau released each of the suspects on a Sh1 million bond without the option of a cash bail.

The case will be mentioned on June 17 to set hearing dates.