Case Metadata |
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Case Number: | Criminal Case 3 of 2015 |
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Parties: | Republic v Johnstone Ayoro Ondego |
Date Delivered: | 18 Nov 2015 |
Case Class: | Criminal |
Court: | High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Commercial Courts Commercial and Tax Division) |
Case Action: | Ruling |
Judge(s): | Nicholas Randa Owano Ombija |
Citation: | Republic v Johnstone Ayoro Ondego [2016] eKLR |
Court Division: | Criminal |
County: | Nairobi |
Disclaimer: | The information contained in the above segment is not part of the judicial opinion delivered by the Court. The metadata has been prepared by Kenya Law as a guide in understanding the subject of the judicial opinion. Kenya Law makes no warranties as to the comprehensiveness or accuracy of the information |
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAIROBI
CRIMINAL CASE NO. 3 OF 2015
REPUBLIC.................................................................................................PROSECUTOR
VERSUS
JOHNSTONE AYORO ONDEGO....................................................................ACCUSED
RULING
By a Notice of Motion dated 12th February 2015, pursuant to the provision of Section 124 of the Criminal Procedure Code [Cap 75] Laws of Kenya, Article 49 (1) (h) of the constitution and all the enabling provisions of the law, the applicant seeks orders:-
The Application is based on the grounds inter-alia:-
The application is supported by the annexed affidavit of Johnstone Ayoro Ondego sworn on the 12th day of February 2015.
On behalf of the applicant, it was urged that the hearing is scheduled for 19th October 2015.
That by virtue of Article 49 (1) (h) the applicant has a constitutional right to be released on reasonable bond or bail terms pending the hearing of the case.
That the applicant is a Kenyan citizen who has all long been resident in Kenya and hence not a flight risk.
On behalf of the respondent it was urged that the evidence against the applicant is overwhelming and credible. That there is a real possibility of a conviction hence the chances of absconding are high.
That the accused person is conversant with the prosecution witnesses and also know where they reside. Hence there is real possibility that if released on bond/bail the accused will inflict real fear on the witnesses who may not turn up during the hearing.
That given the nature of the offence – murder – and the severity of the sentence, if found guilty, the temptation of the accused to abscond if released on bail pending the conviction of the trial, is real.
I have agonized over the rival arguments. Having done so I feel duty bond to reiterate the principles, which a court of law ought to rely on in granting or refusing bail/bond.
The primary object of remanding an accused person is to ensure that he or she will appear to stand his trial and not to seek to evade justice by leaving the jurisdiction of the court. In this regard, I call in aid the persuasive authority of JAFFER -VS- REPBUBLIC [1973] EA 39.
Then there are minor considerations to be taken into account e.g.:-
Applying the above principles to the peculiar circumstances of this case, there is evidence by way of a replying affidavit of the investigating officer that accused has been supplied with witnesses statements and is now aware of the identity of the witnesses and their respective places of abode. That being the case there is real possibility that the accused person, if released on bail, would inflict fear on the prospective witnesses by intimidation.
In the result, I am disinclined to grant bail/bond to the applicant at this stage until the eye-witnesses have given evidence.
The Applicant is at liberty to renew her application once the eye-witness have given evidence. It is so ordered.
Dated and delivered at Nairobi this 18th day of November 2015
N. R. O. OMBIJA
JUDGE