At least 17 people were charged on Monday before a Lamu
county court for allegedly failing to comply with curfew orders imposed by the
Inspector General of the National Police Service.
The suspects denied the charges when they were
arraigned before acting principle magistrate Johnstone Munguti.
The accused, who included civil servants, were
accused of failing to “comply with curfew orders issued to persons residing
within Lamu county between 6:30 pm and 6:30 am”.
They were allegedly found at around 22:20 hours on
October 26 this year within Mpeketoni town “drinking beer and shouting at Rocky
Club in contravention to the curfew orders”.
The ten men and seven women alleged, through lawyer
Ken Njuguna, that they were beaten by police officers who arrested them.
Prosecutor Chief Inspector Caleb Mutonya told the
court that the accused committed the offence contrary to section 8(1) of the
public order act, chapter 56 of the constitution of Kenya.
The prosecuting counsel further told the court that
suspects were found drinking while they were expected to stay indoors in
accordance to the curfew orders.
Mr Mutonya also denied claims that the arresting
officers assaulted the suspects.
In his ruling
Lamu acting principle magistrate Johnstone Munguti fined each of the accused
persons Sh 1000 or in default serve three months in jail.
Mr Munguti directed Lamu West criminal
investigation officer to record statements from the accused persons they were torched during interrogation.
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