Investigations into the murder of Mombasa-based Dutch tycoon and his guard in Shanzu, Mombasa County has taken a new twist after one of the key suspect has entered a plea bargain with the government.
The suspect Mary Nekesa Ambani, 33, alongside Timothy Omondi Ngoe alias Rashid, 22, are accused of double murders of Herman Rouwenhourst, 55 and his guard Evans Bokoro, 23 which occurred at the upscale Rocco apartments in Shanzu, on June 4, 2021.
State counsel Vallerie Ongeti informed the Mombasa Resident Judge, Eric Ogola, that the Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji intended to convert Ambani from a suspect into a key witness.
“I also requested the court for the two suspects to be remanded in separate prisons after the new development. Ambani can be remanded at Malindi Women Prisons for the time being,” she said.
The court also heard Ambani worked for Riziki Cherono, the wife of the slained tycoon Rouwenhorst.
The two had been arrested after Sh3 million, stolen from the Dutch tycoon, was traced to them.
Rashid is said to have acquired a plot at Kiembeni two weeks after the murder, constructed a four-roomed house at a cost of over Sh.1.5 million and furnished it with newly acquired household items worth over Sh.500,000; all said to have been proceeds of the crime.
Cherono was also accused of planning and executing the murder of the husband.
In a chilling confession to detectives on how the duo planned and executed the murder, Nekesa disclosed that Cherono had earlier taken Rashid to their home on a recce mission to familiarize himself with the home.
“To complete the finer details into the murder plot, Rashid took photos of the bedroom where the deceased was later found dead. He was promised a handsome pay upon completion of the task, from money that the deceased kept in a safe in the couple’s bedroom,” detectives said.
However, Cherono disputed the accusations claiming that she was a scapegoat in the murder probe.
