Economy

Former Wananchi Group CEO granted bail

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Mr Richard Alden in a Kibera court on June 6, 2016. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Former Wananchi Group CEO Mr Richard Alden, 52 accused of shooting a woman to death has been granted bail.

Judge Jessie Lessit declined to continue holding Mr Alden in custody and upheld submissions by lawyer Tom Okundi declaring that  “there were no compelling reasons” to do so.

While granting a Sh2 million cash bail against the murder suspect, the Judge  also ruled that he deposits his passport in court as additional security for the reprieve.

The prosecution had vehemently objected to the release of the Wananchi group CEO on bond of grounds that there was a likelihood of interference with witnesses.

Mr Alden has been in custody at Industrial area prison after he denied killing Ms Grace Wangeci Kinyanjui at his residence in Karen, Nairobi.

The suspect returns to court on July 5 in a separate trial over illegal gun possession and being in the country illegally.

“We now begin the process of collating the evidence that will clearly demonstrate Mr Alden had no part to play in the tragic death of Ms Kinyanjui," said Mr Nyakundi.

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Mr Alden was arrested after investigators ruled out an initial report that the woman had shot herself while playing with a pistol.

Ms Catherine Mwaniki , a prosecutor who had opposed the bond had told the trial court that the suspect “cannot be trusted” as he gave conflicting accounts following the fatal incident.