Suspect is senator’s nephew, court told

A suspect in the murder of former Venezuelan ambassador Olga Fonseca Jimenez is a relative of a former Defence minister, the trial court heard Monday.

Ahmed Mohammed, who has been at large since the murder, is former Defence minister, Senator Yusuf Haji’s nephew, a former embassy driver said Monday during cross-examination in court.

Mohammed was known to Kevin Lameck, the former driver, as a close friend of Dwight Saragay, a former top official at the embassy who has been charged with the murder.

The suspect is being sought by police to face the charges alongside Saragay, Ahmed Mutivane Omido, Alex Sifuma Wanyonyi, and Moses Kiprotich Kalya.

Mohammed would often deliver instructions from Mr Saragay, who was a First Secretary at the embassy, to the staff, the driver told the court.

“Mohammed had no role at the embassy. He was not employed by the embassy. He was giving instructions to us as the boss’ friend,” said Mr Lameck while being questioned by Mr Dwight’s lawyer, Katwa-Kigen.

The suspect, on his own, had approached them to release an embassy car to him, but they declined because the driver suspected he wanted to steal the vehicle, the witness said.

The court also heard that there was a disagreement on who was the embassy’s bank account signatory, which allegedly began after Ms Olga was posted to Kenya.

A bank teller once wondered whether it was Mr Saragay or the ambassador, the witness said.

The former driver described the former ambassador as confrontational and hostile to employees but Mr Saragay, he said, was friendly and defended workers’ rights.

The witness was sacked among other embassy’s staff soon after Ms Olga’s arrival, he said.

Hearing continues in April.