Ibrahim Rotich, suspect and estranged husband of murdered long-distance runner Agnes Tirop, has gone missing in court, hence risking nullification of his bond.
When the case came up for hearing on Thursday, the court was informed that the accused person was nowhere to be seen, forcing the court to adjourn hearing the matter.
His lawyer, Ngigi Mbugua, shocked the court when he reported that his client had switched off his two mobile phones, and he had also relocated from his known abode.
“I have tried to reach my client on his two mobile phones without any success. I am also informed that he has relocated from his known residence and nobody knows where he has gone,” lawyer Mbugua told the court.
When asked by the Judge, who his client was staying with, Mbugua replied that the accused person lived alone.
Despite Presiding Judge Robert Wananda allocating the entire day for the case, Rotich, 45 still did not show up in court for the session.
The Judge granted Rotich a Sh400,000 bond with two similar sureties or a cash bail of Sh500,000 two years ago following his second bond application.
This was after Rotich’s lawyer Ngigi Mbugua convinced the court that his client was not a flight risk as argued by the prosecution which opposed the bail application for two years.
Rotich, who is the prime suspect in the murder of his estranged wife, Agnes Tirop, denied the murder charges before the High Court.
According to the particulars of the charge, Rotich is said to have killed Tirop on October 12 at a rural estate in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The slain international runner was found dead at her home in Iten town, Elgeyo Marakwet County with her body bearing stab wounds in October 2021.
Investigations by detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations unit into the case linked her estranged husband with whom they had reportedly differed as the prime suspect in the homicide.
The athlete was brutally killed a few days after jetting into the country after breaking the women’s 10-kilometre world record in Germany, clocking 30:01.
The late Tirop also won bronze medals in the World Championship in the 10,000-metre race in 2017 and 2019 competitions respectively.
Justice Wananda said that there was no way the trial would proceed without the presence of the accused person in court.
“I hope the accused person is safe wherever he is so that he does not endanger his safety,” stated the Judge.
He consequently scheduled mention of the matter on March 18 when he will get a report on the whereabouts of the accused person. The hearing of the case will continue on June 12.
