Albert Ojwang: OCS Talam Was in Constant Communication with PC Mukwana, IPOA Claims in Court
- Nairobi's Central Police Station OCS appeared before Milimani Law Courts Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi over the murder of Albert Omondi Ojwang
- The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) asked the court to detain Talam for 21 days to complete investigations
- According to documents tabled by IPOA, the OCS is connected to Police Constable Juma Mukhwana
Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with TUKO. Enroll Now!
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - Central Police Station OCS Samson Kiprotich Talam has been arraigned over the murder of teacher and blogger Albert Omondi Ojwang.
Source: Facebook
Talaam was arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after he was linked to Ojwang's murder.
On Monday, June 15, the prosecution asked Chief Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi at Milimani Law Courts to detain Talam for 21 days to allow them to complete the investigation.
How is Samson Talam linked to Albert Ojwang's murder?
The prosecution relied on the affidavit sworn by Abdirahaman Jibril, an officer of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
In his affidavit, Jibril alleged that the Central Police Station OCS is linked to Ojwang's brutal murder.
According to the documents tabled by IPOA, Talam was allegedly in constant communication with Police Constable Juma Mukhwana, another suspect in the case, on the night the blogger was killed.
"That from evidence collected by the applicant, the respondent was in constant communication with one person of interest being a police officer identified as named Mukhwana, the cell entry personnel (already in custody pursuant to a Court Order), who held keys to the cells and thereby had access where the deceased was detained and subsequently brutally assaulted, tortured resulting to his death," IPOA said.
In the court documents, IPOA further argued that on the material day, the OCS was in constant communication with people outside the station, allegedly briefing them on the outcome of the murder.
"Through interviews of witnesses, it has been revealed that the respondent was in constant communication with people within and outside Central Police Station immediately before, during and after the commission of the crime and it is suspect that is was mainly for the purpose of planning the brutal assault of the deceased and briefing them on the outcome," the documents stated.
Talam is further accused of planning and coordinating the cover-up of the murder by instructing a technician to delete CCTV footage.
"Preliminary investigations have revealed that the respondent was highly likely to have been involved in the planning, directing, coordinating and attempted cover-up of the murder of the deceased at Central Police Station," IPOA claimed.
Was Talam arrested in Eldoret?
During cross-examination, Talam's lawyers, led by Danstan Omari, pressed Jibril to explain how their client found himself in the hands of the police.
According to Omari, IPOA misled the public that Talam was arrested in Eldoret on his way to Uganda, ostensibly to escape arrest.
He told the court that, contrary to the investigators' assertions, the OCS had turned himself in at the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road.
Jibril refused to respond to reports that Talam was arrested in Eldoret and asked the court to allow him to respond only to the contents of his affidavit.
He testified that the OCS was brought before the Authority by DCI officers, where he recorded a statement and was later taken to Langata Police Station.
Source: Original
What you need to know about Albert Ojwang's death
- DCI boss Amin Mohamed insisted that Talam should be treated as the prime suspect in Ojwang's murder.
- IPOA chairperson Isaac Hassan vowed that the authority would not be used to shield police from accountability, insisting it will pursue the truth.
- IPOA said the CCTV system at the OCS's office was tampered with.
Was Albert Ojwang taken to Mbagathi while already dead?
In other news, exclusive CCTV footage showed the exact time police took the blogger's body to Mbagathi Hospital.
The CCTV footage shows police taking Ojwang to Mbagathi Hospital at 1.35am, contrary to the information shared by DCI boss Mohamed.
The DCI boss had claimed that the blogger was found alive and kicking the cell walls at 1.35am on Sunday, June 8.
Masolo Mabonga, HOD Current Affairs and Politics, updated this article with details on where OCS Talam was arrested.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
