Malindi court asks Interpol to arrest American fugitive wanted for murder

Jacob Schmalzle, the American suspected to have colluded with his Kenyan lover to kill her husband while on holiday in Watamu, when he appeared in court on July 23, 2016. ALPHONCE GARI
Jacob Schmalzle, the American suspected to have colluded with his Kenyan lover to kill her husband while on holiday in Watamu, when he appeared in court on July 23, 2016. ALPHONCE GARI

A Malindi court on Thursday issued a second warrant of arrest against an American national facing murder charges.

Jacob Schmalzle is being sought for allegedly colluding with his ‘lover’ to kill the latter's husband at a Watamu hotel.

The American fled from the country late last year after he learned that the prosecution had preferred murder charges against him.

Chief magistrate Julie Oseko issued a new warrant of arrest after the suspect failed to appear in court to answer fresh charges of conspiracy to defeat justice.

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Oseko directed that the warrant of arrest be executed by Interpol.

A Mombasa high court issued the first warrant of arrest on December 8, 2016.

Schmalzle is suspected to have to kill Jimmy Jagatram Baburam - a Nairobi-based businessman.

Baburam died at Medina Palms hotel in July 2015 under unclear circumstances.

His wife, who was present in court alone, was at the resort for a family holiday when the businessman died.

At the same time, the magistrate issued summons against a former investigation officer Sheik Abdi to appear in court.

The officer is expected to take the plea to three charges of conspiracy to defeat justice.

The prosecution told the court that the three accused persons interfered with the case between July 26 and September 28, 2015.

Shiraz together with the American man was also charged with bribing the investigating officer Sh25,000 and Sh20,000 with intent to conceal evidence.

Abdi, according to the charge sheet, is the former investigation officer who was based in Watamu and handled the case.

He is facing charges of receiving a bribe of Sh25,000 and Sh20,000 to compromise investigation and evidence of the murder case.

Vincent Monda, a Senior assistant director of public prosecution, asked the court to grant him three weeks to issue summons to the former investigation officer.

He said he will do this through the Malindi sub-county investigations officer (DCIO) since Abdi was away for police training.

On the charges preferred against Shiraz, he urged the court to deny her bond due to the seriousness of the offence.

However, defence lawyer Kimani Gicheru opposed the prosecution’s application.

The lawyer said Shiraz has been complying with a High Court order in Mombasa where she is facing murder charges.

Shiraz is out on a Sh10 million bond, and also deposited all her passports.

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The magistrate ordered the accused to be released on a Sh200,000 bond with a surety of a similar amount.

The surety has been secured through Shiraz's house in Westlands, Nairobi.

The case will be mentioned on March 23.

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