Mombasa tycoon Ali Punjani who has been charged in connection to a gun fight with the two sons of slain drug baron Ibrahim Akasha who have since been extradited to the US failed to appear before court today for the hearing of his case.
Lawyer Francis Kadima told a Mombasa law could that the businessman had fallen sick and was admitted at Panday Memorial Hospital.
Punjani is charged with the offense of engaging in a fight at a public place.
He is alleged to have brandish his gun during a fight with Ibrahim Akasha and Baktash Akasha at Rahian Bar and Restaurant in Nyali within Mombasa.
Lawyer Kadima who appeared before Mombasa principal magistrate Henry Nyakweba today said the suspect had fallen sick on Sunday night and had been admitted at the hospital.
“Your honor I have instructions from my client indicating that he is unable to attend court since he fell sick yesterday at night and has since been bedridden and I am hereby requesting the court to issue directions for the matter to be mentioned at a later date once he is well,” said Kadima.
The state had sought to consolidate the the matter with that of Baktash and Ibrahim who are facing similar charges and have since been deported to the US to face drug trafficking charges.
Punjani has since denied charges of engaging in a public fight on January 1 and is out of remand on a bond of Sh 50,000 and one surety of similar amount, with an alternative of Sh 20,000 cash bail.
Punjani was charged with the offence on January 16 but the kept away from the glare of the media after the matter was taken to the magistrates chambers at around 7.48am. He was charged outside the official workingn hours.
