Court grants DPP’s application to proceed with probe into GSU officer’s death in Migori church
Documents presented in court indicate that Obura, a constable, allegedly died under unclear circumstances in March of this year and was buried without the knowledge or consent of his family or employer
A Rongo magistrate’s court has allowed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) application to continue investigations against four directors of St Joseph’s Missions of Messiah in Africa Church over the mysterious death and secret burial of a General Service Unit (GSU) officer within the church compound.
This is after the prosecuting counsel, Juliet Ombogo, informed the court on Tuesday that the matter was coming up for further directions after the state was earlier allowed to exhume the remains of Police Constable Dan Ayoo Obura to facilitate investigations.
The four suspects, Michael Kus Onyango, Luka Ochieng, Everline Gemamo, and Lilian Atieno Olal, have, however, lodged an appeal at the Migori High Court challenging the exhumation order. They have also opposed an order for a post-mortem examination on the deceased’s body or any related investigations.
The High Court is expected to give directions on the appeal on September 17.
Documents presented in court indicate that Obura allegedly died under unclear circumstances in March of this year and was buried without the knowledge or consent of his family or employer.
The court has directed the officer’s widow to identify the exact gravesite within the church compound to enable the County Public Health Officer to carry out the exhumation.
The Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Kamagambo Police Station has been ordered to provide security during the process.
Once exhumed, the remains are to be reinterred at the deceased’s parental homestead in Kochieng, Nyando Sub-County, Kisumu County, in accordance with Luo customary law.
The case is scheduled for mention on September 26.
In late April, 57 people were rescued from indoctrination by the church after the body of a man was discovered inside the church dead.
The body had been fully covered in a white robe and wrapped in a grey sheet.
An inspection by the security team revealed that the body of the man who was identified as Francis Muli had some injuries on the face, and foam was oozing from the mouth.
The security team also discovered a grave where the GSU officer was buried one day after his death.
The recovery of Muli’s body came after another dead body had been recovered from the same place. After the body was dispatched to the morgue, it was then that the police conducted a search in the Church and managed to rescue 57 people residing within the Church.
The police stated that some of those recurred were looking frail.
