Suspect in murder of Chinese arrested in Athi River

A suspect in the killing of a Chinese on September 17 at a warehouse in  Athi River, Machakos, has been arrested.

The man whose identity remains hidden was arrested on Tuesday.

He was locked up at Athi River police station as DCI detectives continue pursuing his accomplices.

Jia Yuan succumbed to a deep cut from the mouth to the back of the head at Shalom Community Hospital in Athi River following the attack by a gang of seven.

A police source confided to the Star that the man was arrested following days of intelligence-led operations.

A detective privy to the investigations said a mobile phone recovered from the scene of the crime and believed to be belonging to one of the suspects helped in his arrest.

“The recovered mobile phone led to his arrest. He is being interrogated and he has already given vital information which will help nab his six accomplices,” the source said.

The Star established that police in Athi River have been conducting daily night operations since the Chinese was killed.

CCTV cameras were on during the incident and captured the thugs as they attacked the deceased alongside two other Chinese nationals, a man and a woman.

“All suspects were captured by the cameras. The arrested suspect has given the names of his accomplices. Police have stepped up investigations to nab the other six,” the source said.

He said some of the mentioned names were suspects with other pending cases at Athi River police station.

Detectives from the DCI headquarters had earlier taken over the investigations.

Yuan was murdered while two others were critically injured. 

The trio included two men and a woman, Machakos Criminal Investigations officer Charles Mutua said then.

Jia Yuwei aged 47, a female had a deep cut on the head and swollen right cheek while Jia Zheng Ming aged 37 had several deep cuts on the head. 

Both were treated and transferred to a Nairobi hospital while Yuan’s body was moved to the Shalom Community Hospital mortuary.

Independent sources had earlier told the Star that three of the thugs wore uniforms of A team security company guarding the premises.

Mutua said the incident occurred between 2am and 3 am.

“This premises was invaded by five to seven criminals who were armed with crude weapons. After entry, they proceeded to the guard room where they found a watchman, tied him then proceeded to warehouses 7 and 8,” Mutua said then.

“Three Chinese nationals resided in the warehouse. The thugs gained entry by breaking glasses. A scuffle thereafter ensued injuring them.”

Mutua said police were informed and rushed to the scene but the thugs had escaped.

He said the security team, detected security lapses at the warehouse.

Only two watchmen were guarding the premises which to them was not in order.

“The security officers were not briefed on the presence of such foreigners. Let those who have such businesses get in touch with police command to know of their existence,” Mutua said.

“The thugs might have been here for financial gains but were not able to get away with the money.”

He said they were going through the CCTV cameras because it was clear they scaled the electrified perimeter wall at some time.

“The perimeter wall was not working and electricity was off,” Mutua said.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris