Two suspects accused of killing Dutch tycoon remanded for 21 days pending probe

Two main suspects behind the double murders of Mombasa-based Dutch tycoon and his guard have been remanded for 21 days to allow officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to conclude the probe.

Senior Principal Magistrate David Odhiambo directed that Timothy Omondi alias Mohammed Khalid, 22, and Mercy Masika, 33 be detained at the Bamburi and Nyali police stations respectively.

Investigation officer Reuben Mwaniki told the court that the duo were nabbed from their hideout, a mansion that was built on a newly acquired piece of land.

“Inside the house newly purchased items such as a refrigerator, television, a television stand, radio system, a solar system amongst other items, were siezed,” said the investigator.

Receipts for recent purchases of construction materials were seized together with a land purchase agreement.

He said that the sleuths tasked with the case are also investigating whether the funds used to purchase the said land are the same monies that were stolen from the deceased house after the murder.

The police sought more time so as to also track down the seller of the land, who is needed to record a statement with the police as well as produce the land transaction records.

The homicide detective said an unknown amount of money in Kenyan and foreign currencies were stolen from a safe in the house.

Court document shows that money in Kenyan and foreign currencies may have found its way to different parts of the country, where the suspects travelled after the killing.

Detectives are also tracing twin mobile phones containing two sim cards and a play station stolen from the Dutchman’s house.

Homicide detectives nabbed the two suspects following the murder of Herman Rouwenhourst, 55 and his guard Evans Bokoro, 23 which occurred at the upscale Rocco apartments in Shanzu, on June 4, 2021.

“Herman Rouwenhourst who owned multiple properties and nightclubs scattered across Mombasa and Kilifi counties, was found lying lifeless on his matrimonial bed, with multiple injuries on the head, his hands and legs tied and his mouth gagged,” stated DCI.

His guard also died under similar circumstances bearing injuries similar to those of his employer.

Preliminary investigations shows that the businessman, said to have owned multiple properties and nightclubs in Mombasa and Kilifi counties, previously informed his wife Riziki Cherono of his intentions to divorce her due to endless marital squabbles.

According to the DCI, however, Cherono did not receive the news all too well hence hatched a plot to eliminate the Dutchman, with whom they had two children aged 14 and 12.

It is reported that on May 10, 2021, Cherono constituted a meeting between the two suspects Rashid and Nekesa, a former manager in one of Rouwenhourst’s hotels.

In a chilling confession to detectives on how they 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.

Investigations have further revealed that on the fateful night of the murder, Cherono opened the door to their apartment letting in Rashid and other suspects still at large, to stage the cold blooded murder.

The estranged wife was reportedly later on found in the couple’s Toyota Probox around Serena hotel, in what detectives believe to have been a staged kidnapping.

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.