Man charged for assaulting police officer in Baringo

Kabarnet

Friday, October 20, 2023

KNA by Joan Tarus/Joshua Kibet

A middle-aged man was arraigned in a Kabarnet court for allegedly beating up a police officer at his duty station at a police post in Baringo Central sub-county.

Andrew Kiplagat who appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Edwin Mulochi was charged with assaulting the police officer contrary to Section 103 (a) of the National Police Service Act Cap 87 (b) of 2014.

Kiplagat is accused that on October 07 this year at about 9 pm at Seretunin Police post jointly with others not in court executed the offence against Officer Lpatigen Lengulisiai while he was on duty.

He was also charged with two other counts of willfully obstructing police officers contrary to Section 253 (b) of the Penal Code and resisting lawful arrest by police officers contrary to Section 254 (b) of the Penal Code.He however denied the charges.

Preliminary investigations into the incident indicated that the accused reportedly assaulted the officer on duty after he was denied access to see and give a sweater to keep warm his brother who had been locked up at the police post after he was arrested for overindulgence in alcoholism.

“Your honour, I was taking a sweater to my brother since he was arrested and the said police officer assaulted me saying that I was drunk,” Kiplagat told the court.   

The accused who had resisted arrest by police who were pursuing him for more than a week after committing the offence blamed the complainant for allegedly shouting at him while he was intoxicated.

He pleaded with the court to allow him to be taken to hospital since he claimed he was still in pain over injuries he sustained during the scuffle.

Mulochi while delivering his ruling ordered the accused be released on a cash bail of Sh 5 000 and be taken to Baringo County Referral Hospital for further treatment.

The Magistrate has slated November 03 this year when the case shall be mentioned again and December 07 for a hearing where three witnesses are expected to testify.

Courtesy; KNA