KISII, Kenya, Feb 2 – Seven teachers arrested for forced pupils to perform an indecent act will Friday know whether they will be released on bail after the prosecution sought to have them detained for fourteen days to allow investigations to be completed.
The teachers were arraigned at the Ogembo Law Courts before Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Bewott following their arrest after a video of the incident went viral.
While making an application court prosecutor Ian Mukusi prayed to detain the suspects at Nyangusu police station for 14 days to enable investigation officers complete investigations.
“The suspects were arrested yesterday and their phones confiscated and subjected to cyber-crime analysis to substantiate the origin of this video,” Mukusi said.
He said within the 14 days the investigation officer will be able to record witness statements to avoid tampering with the witnesses.
He said the video shows public morality which needs to be safeguarded.
“Rights of these children were violated in these video ,I will submit to these courts to detain the respondents(teachers)until the investigation is over and they will be charged in court,” said the court prosecutor.
Edward Begi representing the suspect opposed the application and said the application is based on lies and the court was not told what mistakes his clients committed.
“I ask this court to uphold the human rights of the respondents and release them on bail as the police conclude with investigations,” said Begi.
He said the school has eight teachers and seven of them were already in court and this is paralyzing learning in the school and the court should consider releasing them.
Further, Begi in his submission told the court the case being of public interest is a statement of the bar and this court should not buy it.
He said the police were misusing some sections of the law since the teachers are only suspects who should not be condemned.
“The application does not highlight which rights of the children were violated, I ask the court to do away with this application,” said Begi.
Biwott the court Magistrate said he will make a ruling tomorrow if these teachers will be released on bail or not.
“The respondents will be detained at Nyangusu police station till tomorrow morning when the court will make a ruling on this application,” said the Court Magistrate.
