Kisumu chief accused of defiling schoolgirl for 7 hours
South West Seme Chief Michael Odhiambo Oluoch covers his face against media cameras on June 8, 2015 after he was arrested and taken to Kombewa District Hospital for a medical examination over claims that he had defiled a minor in his house in Kisumu County. PHOTO | TONY OMONDI |
What you need to know:
- The minor was headed to church when the administrator lured her into his house, alleging the that he wanted to send her to the shop, the prosecution claims.
- Appearing before Principal Magistrate Dolphin Okundi, Mr Odhiambo denied denied and indecently touching the minor.
- The prosecution opposed his lawyer's request to have him released on bond, awaiting hearing of the case.
A chief in Kisumu County has been accused of repeatedly defiling a 14-year-old girl for seven hours on Sunday.
South West Seme Location Chief Michael Odhiambo Oluoch, a Maseno court was told on Tuesday, sexually abused the Standard Six pupil from 9am to 4pm at Kogundo Village.
The minor was headed to church when the administrator lured her into his house, alleging that he wanted to send her to the shop, the prosecution claims.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Dolphin Okundi, Mr Odhiambo denied defiling and indecently touching the minor.
The prosecution opposed his lawyer's request to have the suspect released on bond while he awaits the hearing of the case.
MINOR TO TESTIFY
“My client brought himself to court and is ready to abide by any terms of bond. We ask the court to grant him this request,” lawyer Edwin Lugadiru said.
However, the prosecution argued that the chief was likely to interfere with witnesses.
“The accused is the chief of the area and a neighbour of the victim. Unless the victim is allowed to testify today, we fear the accused might interfere with witnesses by using his privileged position,” the prosecution told the court.
Magistrate Okundi agreed with the prosecution and directed that the minor testify at 2pm on Tuesday before he rules on the bond application.
PUBLIC SHAME
On Monday, residents of Kogundo Village who were demanding to see the chief stormed Kombewa District Hospital, where the accused and the minor had been taken for medical examinations.
Accompanied by Seme Sub-County Children Officer Beatrice Auma, the locals demanded that the chief be arraigned for “public shame”.
“We want him taken before the cameras and shown for what he really is,” one of them was heard shouting as the dozens of villagers milled around the hospital to look at the suspect.
However, their efforts were thwarted by the police, who whisked the chief away in a car.
Later, the chief was taken to a police station, where he spent the night before being presented to court on Tuesday.
