Two businessmen operating a car bazaar in Kiambu County were on Thursday arraigned at the Kibera Law Courts and charged with threatening to kill.
The accused, Rahiel Nazaf Daud, a director at Executive Car World Bazaar, and Hitesh Motwani alias Vicky, both pleaded not guilty to two counts before Kibera Magistrate Zainab Abdul.
The court ordered a pre-bail report before determining whether the accused will be released on bond or cash bail.
“I have considered the application by the defence to defer the plea as well as the objections by the DPP and direct that the plea be taken,” ruled Magistrate Abdul.
In her ruling, the magistrate emphasized that the decision to charge lies with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), noting that due process had been followed.
Details of the Charges
According to the charge sheet, the two are accused of committing the offence on March 25 at Taal Club in Westlands, Nairobi, where they allegedly issued death threats to Arya Anuj.
The prosecution told the court that the accused unlawfully uttered words threatening to kill the complainant, an offence under Kenyan law.
Hitesh Motwani is also reportedly linked to other alleged crimes, including human trafficking, and was described in court as having connections with a suspected drug baron.
Defence Pushback
Earlier, the defence, led by lawyer Steve, sought to have the plea deferred, arguing that the accused were already out on cash bail and that their constitutional rights had been violated, alleging they had been abducted by police.
However, the application was strongly opposed by the prosecution, and the court allowed the plea to proceed.
The case will be mentioned on Monday for further directions as the court awaits the pre-bail report.