A 19-year-old student who allegedly assaulted a police officer along Kamiti Road and robbed him of a communication gadget has been charged with robbery with violence.
Ian Njoroge appeared before Milimani Principal Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi on Tuesday.
He denied three counts of charges.
According to the charge sheet, Njoroge is accused that on June 2, jointly with others not before the court, he robbed Corporal Jacob Ogendo, of a police communication gadget and a mobile phone valued at Sh50,000.
The prosecution said immediately he had committed the robbery, he wounded the officer.
He faced a second count that on the same dates and place, he unlawfully beat up the officer and did grievous harm to him.
The court also heard Njoroge resisted arrest by the said officer Ogendo who at the time of the resistance was acting in the due execution of his duty.
The prosecution opposed his release on bail saying the investigating officer has not finished recording statements from officers who are witnesses.
The DPP requested for three days to finish taking statements and file a formal application to deny him bail.
However, defence lawyers led by Duncan Okatch and Soyinka Lempaa said there are no compelling reasons to deny the accused bond.
“Just because the officers have not recorded statements does not warrant his detention,” lawyer Okatch said.
“He is a student at a university and has a fixed abode. He has parents and was arrested at a home.”
Oktch went ahead and played a viral video im court where the officer was hard cruelly treating the accused.
He urged the court to release Njoroge on lenient bail.
Njoroge has also been arraigned in a Traffic court to face three charges.
The counts relate to causing obstruction, carrying excess passengers in a Nissan Note vehicle and disobeying verbal directions given by an officer.
He has denied the charges and he is out on a cash bail of Sh60,000.
The magistrate directed that Njoroge be taken to Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment and be remanded at the Industrial area prison.
The case will be mentioned on Wednesday, June 5, when the prosecution will file a formal application to deny him bail.
