A robbery suspect who allegedly assaulted a police officer and forced his way out of a police vehicle while being escorted to prison has been charged with escaping from lawful custody.
Mr Eric Agwata is accused of escaping the custody of four police officers from Theta Police Station in Juja, Kiambu County who were escorting him to Nairobi Area Remand and Allocation Prison.
According to the prosecution, the suspect and his fellow inmate, uncuffed themselves, attempted to rob the police officers of their rifles before jumping out of the land cruiser, during the incident that happened on April 24, 2023. They then vanished at Kariobangi roundabout in Nairobi.
Mr Agwata was later traced to his village in Kisii County where he had retreated after the escape.
He has also been charged with assaulting police constable Thomas Mwenda during the incident, contrary to section 254 (b) of the penal code.
Mr Mwenda and his three colleagues were escorting four suspects from the Thika Law Courts to the remand facility when, Mr Agwata and his accomplices allegedly attacked them before freeing themselves and escaping.
The police officers proceeded to Huruma Police Station where they reported the matter and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) took over investigations.
Mr Agwata denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Eric Mutunga at the Makadara Law Courts. Prosecution counsel Joy Kaaria opposed bail and bond terms for the suspect.
Ms Kaaria told the court that the accused was facing charges of robbery and gang r@pe vide criminal case number 2052/2022 before he escaped and went into hiding.
Mr Mutunga ordered that the suspect will remain in custody during the trial. The case will be mentioned on July 26, 2023 before hearing starts on October 18, 2023.
