A man accused of calling his neighbour a prostitute has been charged with using offensive words in a public place with intent to cause a breach of peace.
Swaleh Mohamed from Likoni appeared before Mombasa Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo and pleaded not guilty to charges of offensive conduct contrary to section 94 (1) of the penal code.
Swaleh is alleged to have insulted one Linda Jerita by alleging that she engaged in sexual activities for payment.
The charges were read to him in Swahili before the court “Malaya unato* na babako” in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace.
As the court prosecutor read out the words court users remained tight-lipped and in shock as they tried to come to terms with the abusive words being read in court.
Mohamed is said to have uttered the abusive words at Ofisi ya Jara area in Likoni sub-county on July 4, 2023 at around 4 pm.
The magistrate ordered the suspect to be released on a Ksh50,000 bond with one surety of a similar amount.
“I hereby order the suspect to be released on bond and fix a date for hearing,” Magistrate Odhiambo ruled.
The matter will be mentioned on August 10.
Tout calls woman prostitute
A matatu tout was arraigned in court in November last year for a similar offence.
George Kihiu Karanja, a tout then working with Tripple S SACCO, was arraigned in court on November 3, 2023, and charged with insulting a rival female matatu sacco driver.
Karanja was accused of calling Catherine Kabura Wangari a prostitute at Tom Mboya Street commercial bus stop.
Appearing before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi, Karanja pleaded guilty to using abusive words to Kabura in a public place with intent to provoke a breach of peace.