Hafsa kidnapping: Main suspects charged, remanded for five days

Hafsa Ahmed Abdi and her boyfriend Jackson Njogu who are alleged to have kidnapped their friend last month at Kayole Junction in Nairobi County have been charged with the offence.

Appearing before Makadara Chief Magistrate Heston Nyagah the two suspects denied several charges of abducting their friend Hafsa Mohamed, stealing, conspiracy to commit a felony, disabling in order to commit a felony and assault.

According to a charged filed in court, the prosecution alleged that on diverse dates between June 15 and 20, 2021 at Kayole junction, Njiru sub-county within Nairobi county, Hafsa and Njogu jointly with others not before court secretly and wrongfully confined and abducted the complainant.

Hafsa and Njogu were also charged that on diverse dates between April 2021 to June 15, 2021 at Kayole junction in Njiru sub-county jointly with others not before court conspired to abduct Mohamed and stole from her Sh615,000 held in her KCB account from various KCB ATMs and agents within Nairobi county.

The court heard that on the June 15 this year at Kayole, the two suspects jointly with others at large choke,suffocated and strangled and with intent to commit or facilitate abduction fed Mohamed saw dust and covered her mouth with a tape and tied her hands with a Manila rope and blind folded her to render her incapable of resistance.

Further, the Hafsa and Njogu were further charged that on the same dates and place they stole Mohamed mobile phone worth Sh 170,000 and jewelries namely gold ring, necklace, earrings, bracelets worth Sh 160,000.

They are accused of also stealing Sh 5000 from the complainant’s M-pesa account and Sh615,000 from her KCB account all totaling to Sh950,000.

After denying the charges, the prosecution vehemently opposed the accused persons’ application to be released on bail pending the hearing of the case.

The court heard that police during the investigations into the matter found that Hafsa and Njogu don’t have a fixed abode and therefore are high likelihood of absconding court once release on bond terms.

“The two suspects are flight risk. Even if the court were to find it find to grant them bond terms, they do not have any documents to deposit in court. This is notwithstanding the fact that the accused persons have been moving in and outside this country during their alleged watermelon business trips to countries such as Uganda and Tanzania.If granted bond, and the severity of the offences they are facing, it is my fear that they may flee the country,” says the investigating officer in his affidavit.

The state further informed the court if the duo are released they will interfere with key witneses expected to testify in the case.

The prosecution says that the way the Hafsa and Njogu planned and executed the abduction of Mohamed they believe the two have connections with some unknown organised criminal gangs who are currently being persued by the detectives.

The two were charged after the Directorate of criminal investigation compleyed the investigations into the kidnapping of Mohamed.

On Monday, investigating officer Mary Wandia says that two were arrested over the weekend.

Wandia told the court thag that the two suspects (Hafsa and Njogu) took the victim to Kayole junction to be incorporated in a business of supplying water melons.

Mohamed is alleged to have been abducted on June 15 this year and salvaged five days later.

Police said the two, Hafsa and Njogu were tracked to a lodging at the Flyover Junction in Kinangop where they were hiding since Mohammed was rescued from a house in Matopeni, Kayole.

The two, according to police, were suspects in the kidnap of Mohammed who was tormented as her kidnappers requested Sh5 million ransom before she was extricated on June 20.

The court was told that the victim was rescued and taken to hospital but still under medication.

The magistrate has ordered the two to be remanded in custody until July 7.