Sixteen suspects arrested over the viral video of a woman who was sexually assaulted on Monday will remain in custody until Thursday.
Milimani Principal Magistrate Robert Shikwe on Wednesday said he could not rule on whether to detain the suspects for 20 days as prayed by the prosecution.
Shikwe said he needed time to make his ruling against James Mutinda, Samuel Wafula, Charles Omondi, Japheth Bosire, Hassan Farah, Wanjiku Lincon, Harrison Maina among others who are allegedly accused of sexually assaulting the woman on March 4.
In an affidavit filed before the court by Inspector of police Yvonne Mwanzia, she states that the suspects need to be detained for 20 days pending investigations.
She told the magistrate that the incident was reported by the victim who is a diplomat vide OB No.40/07/03/2022 at Parklands police station.
The court heard that at around 1730hrs while she was driving the vehicle along Prof Wangari Mathaai road, on reaching at Barabara tano she was involved in a traffic road accident with a bodaboda rider.
“Suddenly a group of bodaboda riders who were at the stage moved to where her vehicle had stopped and attacked her accusing her of hitting one of their colleque”, the court was told.
The officers added that while the victim was still inside her vehicle, the suspects started assaulting her sexually and in the process, they robbed her a mobile phone valued at Sh130,000.
The police need to obtain and retrieve CCTV footages from Barabara Tano for forensic analysis at DCI headquarters imaging and photographic department.
They also need time to compile the police file and take it to DPP for perusal.
"I need 20 days to allow me time to investigate the suspects who have no known place of abode,"Mwanzia told the court.
She said the complainant is yet to sign a P3 form and she's still undergoing medication and counselling.
The court heard that the matter is of public interest.
The court will rule on whether to detain them for 20 days tomorrow.
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