Traffickers jailed 10 years over Sh 4.5 M bhang

Loitoktok,

Monday, January 15, 2024

KNA by Kimani Tirus /Lavinia Nungari

Five men who were arrested with a bhang haul worth Sh4.48 million in Loitoktok have been fined Sh10 million each or in default to serve a 10-year jail term.

 The accused, Harrison Kamau, George Kipsoi, Robert Lemayian, James Kariuki and Richard Wamai were convicted and sentenced by Loitoktok Principal Magistrate Judicaster Nthuku after they were found guilty of a charge of possessing 153 kgs of cannabis sativa on May 3, 2023 in Loitoktok town.

 Harrison Kamau separately faced another count of drug trafficking which was thrown out by the court after the prosecution failed to specify the conduct that constituted drug trafficking in the charge sheet since there are about 12 modes of drug trafficking.

During the trial, Philip Ngumbo, a police officer attached to Loitoktok police station had told the court how on the material day at around 9.30am while on a multi-agency crackdown on alcohol in Loitoktok town they came across a residential plot and heard noises coming from therein.

When they entered the premises, they found five men in the room with sacks full of bhang, some in raw form while some of it had been processed in rolls.

They arrested and escorted them to the police station where they were charged with the offence and thereafter arraigned in court where they denied the charges.

In court they denied the charges citing the fact they were arrested at different places however the court found their defense as an afterthought since they never raised the issue during cross-examination.

The court also noted that the accused had previous records of criminal activities. 

Principal Mgistrate Nthuku ordered the consignment of bhang to be destroyed through incineration.

 The five convicts were granted the requisite 14 days to appeal against the sentence.

Courtesy; KNA