Court orders psychiatric test for Mombasa ‘naked thieves’
The Shanzu Law Court has directed that two of the four men arrested over the Bamburi witchcraft drama to undergo psychiatric tests before they take plea.
Senior Principal Magistrate Diana Mochache ordered that Patrick Otieno, 22, and Mr Musa Ongomu, 24, be taken to the Coast Provincial General Hospital for the test on Monday after they failed to speak while in court.
“They should be taken for a psychiatric review,” Mochache said.
The two were arrested on Wednesday after they were alleged to have stolen a motor vehicle in Kiembeni during the Eid-Ul-Adha celebrations.
STOLEN VEHICLE
The duo are also facing alternative charges of dishonestly retaining a motor vehicle, a Nissan Fuga registration number KBV 717Y valued at Sh900, 000.
According to court documents obtained by Nation, the two also have a second count of being in possession of wildlife trophies contrary to the Wildlife Service and Management Act.
The court heard through a medical report that the accused were confirmed to be of sound health despite the minor injuries they sustained from the beating by the public.
On Thursday, a woman believed to be part of the sorcery drama syndicate, Ms Elizabeth Sarah Wetaba pleaded guilty to giving false information before the same court.
Mochache ordered that the accused be remanded at Mtwapa and Nyali Police stations as they await to take plea.
STAGE-MANAGED
“They go mute while in court but they murmur to each other. They need to be separated so that they talk to others,” the Magistrate ordered.
On Wednesday evening, police arrested four people among them two Ugandan nationals- Yassin Lokorobe and Ronald Nganga (witch doctors) suspected to have stage-managed the dramatic sorcery incident at Masters Stage in Bamburi.
The alleged witch doctors are accused of being in possession of a snake without a licence from the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Police say they stage-managed the whole process to boost their sorcery business.
Mochache said all the five suspects will appear in court in September 13 for pleas and direction of the case.
