Five Police Officers will be charged at the Nairobi High Court on September 8, 2021, after a suspect died while in custody at the Changamwe Police Station in Mombasa County.
Caleb Ospino Otieno died a few hours after he was arrested for suspicion of being in possession of illegal alcohol – Changáa at Mikindani on September 18, 2018.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) conducted investigations into the death of the suspect after they were notified by the officer in charge of the station about the death.
The Changamwe Police Station. |Photo| Courtesy|
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IPOA has since revealed that four of the officers were arrested separately in Mombasa while the fifth who is at large, has been ordered to surrender.
The officers are currently in holding pending their arraignment in court on September 8.
The officers are Khalif Abdulahi Sigat, James Muli Koti, Joseph Odhiambo Sirawa, Edward Kongo Onchonga, and Nelson Nkanae.
IPOA stated that the officers will undergo a mental assessment to ascertain whether they are fit to stand trial.
Among others, the IPOA investigation relied on a postmortem examination that established that Mr. Otieno died of multiple injuries inflicted with blunt force.
Investigators also recorded statements from witnesses, including police officers who were on duty on the fateful day, other detainees as well as people who saw Mr. Otieno at the point of arrest.
Initially, Otieno was booked at the station as “unknown,” after he was arrested at around 1800 Hrs.
At around 9 pm the same day, he was removed from the cells and later transferred to the Coast General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Office of Director of Public Prosecution independently reviewed the IPOA investigation file and acceded to the recommendations.
“IPOA remains committed to being independent, impartial and fair," IPOA Chairperson Anne Makori stated.
Police officers are bound by IPOA Act to write to the Authority notifying it of such deaths and serious injuries that occur within their areas of jurisdiction.
