Courts
Three Mbagathi mortuary attendants freed on Sh100,000 for Sh30,000 fraud bid, lying to police
State Prosecutor Sonia Njoki told the magistrate that the three presented the police officer with body of another person and passed it as that of Mbugua
Three employees of Mbagathi Farewell Home have been charged with giving false information police officer about the identity of a deceased person.
Jackline Njagi Wangithi, the head mortician, Jackline Akoth Owino, a data clerk and Elizabeth Aoga, a mortuary assistant, denied three counts of giving false information, conspiracy to commit a felony and demanding money by menaces.
Appearing before the Milimani Senior principal magistrate Benmark Ekhubi the three denied falsely informing Constable Joseph Ogalo that they had not released the body of James Mbugua from the mortuary.
State Prosecutor Sonia Njoki told the magistrate that the three presented the police officer with body of another person and passed it as that of Mbugua.
The three denied demanding Ksh 30,000 from Ann Mbugua on December 5, 2024, with intent to defraud her.
They were also accused of conspiring to obtain money from Ann pretending the money was intended to clear an accumulated mortuary bill.
The three applied to be released on reasonable bond terms as they were persons of meagre means.
“I am a mother of two and the sole breadwinner. I urge this court to admit me to a free bond since I am a person employed in the county government with a meagre salary,” Aoga told the magistrate.
Similarly, Wanghiti and Owino pleaded for lenient bail terms, saying they are single mothers with young children.
The prosecution opposed the accused being released on free bond despite their undertaking to turn up in court to face trial.
In a brief ruling, the magistrate freed them on a cash bail of Ksh 100,000.
The mentioned will be in two weeks time.
