The suspects at the Garissa law court./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Three women have been charged before a Garissa court over allegations of abducting, assaulting and robbing a woman in an incident that allegedly took place earlier this month within Garissa Township.
The suspects, identified as Fartun Abdi Hassan, Hani Mohamed Salim and Ifrah Abdi Ahmed, appeared before Garissa Resident Magistrate Rachael Ng'ang'a on Monday after spending seven days in police custody as investigators completed their enquiries.
The trio denied two counts of robbery with violence and abduction.
A fourth suspect, Ayan Ahmed, was discharged after the victim failed to identify her during an identification parade conducted at Iftin Police Station.
Investigating officer Benard Ogola told the court that the victim, identified only as MD, positively identified the three accused persons during the parade.
However, Ogola said Ayan could still be re-arrested and charged if ongoing investigations uncover evidence linking her to the alleged offences.
The four suspects had initially been arraigned last Monday, but investigators successfully sought seven more days to complete investigations.
According to the charge sheet, the three women allegedly abducted MD at Baraka Bazaar in Garissa Township on June 5, 2026, before subjecting her to grievous harm and rape.
The prosecution further told the court that the accused, alongside other people who have not been arrested, robbed the victim of a mobile phone valued at Sh1,500.
During the proceedings, the victim claimed that the suspects had threatened her and urged the court to deny them bond.
The accused, however, pleaded for their release, saying they were mothers with young children who depended on them.
Fartun told the court that she had a six-month-old baby and had not breastfed the child since her arrest.
"I have a six-month-old baby. I haven't yet breastfed since I was arrested. I would like the court to grant me bond," she said, adding that the father of her two children had died.
The accused also denied knowing the complainant and argued that they did not come from the same locality.
They dismissed claims that they would interfere with or harm the victim if released.
Magistrate Ng'ang'a released the three suspects on a bond of Sh500,000 each, with an alternative cash bail of Sh300,000.
The case will be mentioned on July 1, 2026
Garissa resident Magistrate Rachael Ng’ang’a./STEPHEN
ASTARIKO
The investigating officer, Benard Ogola, giving his testimony
to the court. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO
