13 DCI Officers Face Charges Over Kidnapping of 2 Indian Ruto Campaign Associates
Tuesday saw the arraignment of fifteen suspects, including thirteen officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), in connection with the disappearance of two Indian nationals and their Kenyan chauffeur.
The group is responsible for the enforced disappearance of Mohamed Zaid Sami, Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan, and taxi driver Nicodemus Mwania Mwange last July.
One officer from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) warden are among the 14 DCI operatives.
They were accused of abduction with the intent to murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, subjecting a person to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
The fifteen were additionally charged with collaborating in the execution of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment as well as forgery.
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Due to the extreme seriousness of enforced disappearances, which constitute an international crime, a violation of human rights, and a crime against humanity, the public prosecutor opposed the release of the accused on bail and sought to have them detained pending the hearing of the case.
“The DPP recognizes that the investigations into this matter are complex and I hereby direct the Inspector-General to inquire into the aspect of murder and torture as a Crime against Humanity under the International Crimes Act No. 16 of 2008,” the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions said in a statement issued Tuesday.
The suspects will be held at the Kiambu GK Prison until a parole hearing on November 3.
Mr. Sami and Mr. Khan reportedly arrived in Kenya in April 2022 to join the ICT campaign team of then-vice president William Ruto ahead of the August 2022 General Election.
They disappeared on July 25 after being kidnapped in front of the Ole Sereni Hotel in Nairobi.
13 DCI Officers Face Charges Over Kidnapping of 2 Indian Ruto Campaign Associates