Preliminary investigation records state that Ms Tett had paid Mr Wachira a substantial amount of money to execute the plan before he jumped ship and demanded extra payment from the intended victim to spare his life.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko holds the key to the case of former assistant minister Betty Tett in relation to alleged planned murder of a Nairobi businessman.
Ms Tett, who has been questioned in connection with the murder, did not appear in court yesterday as expected because her case file is yet to get the nod of the public prosecutor.
Police alleged that Mrs Tett had hired a jailbird, Mr John Wachira Linus, to kill the Nairobi-based businessman, Mr Andrew John Laird White—co-founder of Nairobi bourse-listed firm Scangroup and former executive in the advertising firm. Yesterday, the prosecution asked a court to detain Mr Wachira, who linked Ms Tett to the murder conspiracy, till the case is heard and determined.
A prosecutor said Mr Wachira is well known to Mr White and may interfere with the key witness.
“I am requesting to be given time to respond to the application for bail, which we will be opposing, the complainant in this case is the intended victim and the accused knows his residence, there is a likely hood that he may interfere with the witness,” said prosecutor Jackline Kilonzo.
Mr Wachira’s lawyer objected to the request and asked the court to consider that the suspect “is only charged with an offence of conspiracy, and, that to date there has not been any loss of life, injury to a person or damage to any property” and that he was entitled to being released on bond.
The police said the former Nominated MP would appear in court as the second suspect in the planned murder of Mr White. Mr Wachira was last week charged before Kibera Senior Resident Magistrate Brian Khaemba where he denied a charge of conspiracy to kill and was remanded to allow the prosecution time to give compelling reasons he should not be released on bond.
The charge states that between August 1, and December 29, 2014 at an unknown place in Nairobi County, jointly with others not before court, he conspired to kill Mr White.
Preliminary investigation records state that Ms Tett had paid Mr Wachira a substantial amount of money to execute the plan before he jumped ship and demanded extra payment from the intended victim to spare his life.
It was alleged that the relationship between Ms Tett and Mr White thawed after he reportedly pulled out of an advertisement business they operated together. The police alleged they have recovered money transfer data allegedly sent by Ms Tett to the hireling.
Mr Wachira is said to have tried to solicit more money from the intended victim so that he could drop the job. He is alleged to have shown Mr White communication about the alleged planned murder which included personal details such as the vehicles he used and places he visited.
Mr Wachira was acquitted of charges of robbery with violence in 2012 because of lack of evidence.
