Tob Cohen's widow arrested, to face fresh murder charges
Sarah Wairimu Cohen, the widow of Dutch businessman Tob Cohen on October 14, 2022.
What you need to know:
- Two years ago, Mr Haji asked a Nairobi court to withdraw the murder case against Wairimu and her co-accused.
- The trial court had been told that the accused murdered Tob Cohen between July 19 and July 20, 2019.
Sarah Wairimu, widow of murdered Dutch businessman Tob Cohen, has been arrested and is likely to appear in court on Friday to plead to fresh murder charges.
Wairimu was arrested on Thursday evening at her home in Nairobi, and was detained at the Kilimani Police Station.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations homicide unit, who have been following up on the matter, said there is fresh evidence linking Wairimu to the murder of her husband.
A source familiar with the investigations told Nation.Africa that Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga had okayed fresh charges against Wairimu over the 2019 murder.
The source said investigators, who were not content with the decision by former DPP Noordin Haji to withdraw the murder trial, had decided to engage Mr Ingonga with the fresh evidence.
“We (DCI) petitioned the DPP on the evidence. Directions were issued for further investigations. We have now completed filling the gaps and we are ready to prosecute,” said the senior investigator who requested anonymity because he is not authorised to issue press statements.
Two years ago, Mr Haji asked a Nairobi court to withdraw the murder case against Wairimu and her co-accused, Peter Karanja.
Mr Haji, now the National Intelligence Service boss, told the court that instead of the murder trial, the court should order for an inquest to be heard at the Milimani Law Courts.
"This will enable the contradictions that have affected the proceeding of this matter to be heard in detail by all parties. In addition, it will provide an opportunity for parties to present any information that had not been explored substantially before the court,” Haji said in a circular dated November 30, 2022
The trial court had been told that the accused murdered Cohen between July 19 and July 20, 2019.
Wairimu and Karanja denied the charges before High Court Judge Stella Mutuku and were released on a cash bail of Sh2 million each.
Karanja was, however, re-arrested soon after his release and taken to the Naivasha Law Courts.
Wairimu in 2020 claimed that Cohen was murdered and dumped in a septic tank at their home while she was in police custody.
She told court that the businessman was murdered by people who were well known, but were enjoying the protection of DCI officers.
