Panic gripped the Mombasa Law Court after a suspect grabbed an AK47 and threatened to shoot court users inside the courtroom.
According to a letter written to the Mombasa Law Courts chief magistrate and copied to the presiding judge Olga Sewe, the suspect whose matter was set to be heard in a court proceeding presided by principal magistrate Gladys Ollimo, grabbed a gun from a prison warden and tried to cock the gun to shoot inside the courtroom but he was overpowered.
The letter further states that the suspect was overpowered by court orderlies and the firearm taken away.
“I refer to the above-captioned matter and wish to inform you that this afternoon we had an unfortunate near shooting. The incident happened when an accused person grabbed a firearm and tried to shoot people around but was unable to cock the firearm to enchamber it,” the letter read in parts.
The magistrate was later whisked away to her chambers.
“There is no doubt that this is a scary and unfortunate incident that should not have taken place, the magistrate was shaken after the incident and all the matters before her had to be taken out, ” the letter added.
The incident was reported at the Mombasa Central Police Station and police have commenced investigations.
“We have taken up the matter with the Mombasa Central Police Station and the same is under investigation,” the letter added.
Following the incident security has been beefed up with more armed police officers manning the court.
Usually, court orderlies are not armed with guns to protect judicial officers and court users, only prison wardens escorting suspects from prison carry guns to the courtrooms.
