Joe Mwangi, the embattled former manager of teenage star Wendy Waeni, has been detained for five days.

The ruling was made by a Nairobi court on Tuesday after detectives requested to hold Mwangi for seven days to complete investigations for allegedly threatening Waeni’s mother.

“In my view, he is a flight risk and might interfere with investigations. He went into hiding and switched off his phones. He confessed that he went into hiding,” said Nairobi Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi.

The court heard that the suspect is being investigated over forgery and threatening Waeni’s mother, Magdalene Mbele Syombua.

“That the suspect forged a letter purporting to be the Interior and National Coordination Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and sent it via an email address to the complainant, Syombua, so as to intimidate her,” said Tenai.

‘Evaded arrest’

Wendy is a Kenyan contortionist who has performed for audiences around the world, including before presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Paul Kagame.

The court was told that the suspect is also wanted by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) children protection unit for interrogation for other offences involving the minor.

Mwangi was arrested on Monday after the DCI appealed to the public to give information on his whereabouts.

The investigating officer informed the court that after committing the said offences, the suspect switched off all of his known mobile phones, making his arrest difficult.