City Court Chief Magistrate Roseline
The case of Benson Masubo alias Wazir Chacha, the man accused of defrauding MPs and the public, using Murang’a Woman Rep Sabina Chege’s name, was adjourned pending hearing on 2nd October.
Chacha’s new lawyer George Wajackoyah said he needed time to familiarise himself with the file.
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He was earlier represented by lawyer Job Ngeresa after his arrest in Tarime, Tanzania on March 30 last year.
He asked for an adjournment, saying he is new in the matter and would need time to go through the file before hearing the case. The prosecution opposed the application, saying they were ready to proceed with the matter since four witnesses were already in court.
MPs Sabina Chege, Jackoyo Midiwo, Cecilia Ngetich and another witness were in court and ready to testify.
The presiding chief magistrate Roseline
“This court recognizes the role of victim’s advocate in proceedings. A victim has a right to appear in person or be represented by counsel. Prof. Wajakoya says he has just been appointed and needs to go through documents. A victim has a right to know what the case is,” ruled
Chacha is facing six counts, among them conspiring to register a Safaricom mobile number in the name of Chege.
He is also charged with impersonation and obtaining money by false pretence.
He allegedly used the number to contact former Gem MP Midiwo on March 4. Jakoyo sent him Sh20,000.
On March 8 last year, at Sport Restaurant, the suspect attempted to obtain Sh100,000 from the former legislator.
He was exposed after MPs, including Chege, sought police intervention after it emerged the accused had conned several lawmakers.
Chacha was released on a Sh1 million bail after probation officer Jenevive Akinyi brought a report, saying the accused comes from a good and reliable family.
“His family is well-known in their rural area. His father is a former mayor of Kehancha in Kuria. The family is very supportive,” she said.
In the report, Jakoyo, said he had registered his reservations on the accused being released on bond.
The former MP, according to the report, said he believes Chacha is connected to certain influential people and being granted bail would be an avenue for him to try and pervert justice.
“Midiwo indicated that since Chacha is entitled to bail as his constitutional right, stringent measures should be put in place to ensure he attends court if given bond,” Akinyi said.
The probation officer, however, said Sabina Chege was not interviewed as efforts to reach her were futile.
According to medical reports, the officer said they discovered that the suspect is epileptic, hence suffers unexplainable convulsions.
Chacha’s family said they believe he suffers from a mental disorder and explained that he would turn violent and at times walk naked in the village during his school days.