A Swiss and 11 girls were on Tuesday charged with prostitution-related offences.
Mr Christoph Clement Weissenerider denied inciting the Kenyan girls to prostitution.
Mombasa senior principal magistrate Richard Odenyo
released him on a Sh1 million bond and ordered him to surrender his
passport to the court.
The girls denied living on earnings from prostitution and were released on Sh100,000 bond each and a surety in similar amount.
Mr Odenyo heard that Mr Weissenerider incited to
prostitution Ms Janet Okoth Omollo, Ms Mercy Waithera Karanja, Ms
Beatrice Mueni Mwosa, Ms Mary Nyambura Kimani and Ms Magdaline Wairimu
Chege.
Others allegedly sexually exploited by the
foreigner are Ms Celestine Nekesa Sitati, Ms Dorcus Melisah Indakwa, Ms
Lydia Nyaboke Momanyi, Ms Phidela Mawia Solomon, Ms Anne Wanjiku Gichuku
and Ms Cecila Nzambi Katuku.
The magistrate had to order the public out of the
court room after they jeered Mr Weissenerider when he pleaded not guilty
to the first count.
“We are going to proceed with this matter without the public. Kindly remove them,” ordered Mr Odenyo.
On the second count, Mr Weissenerider denied
earning money from prostitution between March 10 and May 9, 2013, at
Mwansa Apartments in Nyali, Kisauni, in Mombasa County.
Lawyer Muchai Lumatete, who represented the Swiss
and the 11 girls, objected to prosecutor John Gacheru’s application to
deny the foreigner bail. The prosecutor had said he could easily flee
the country.
“There is no past conduct to show the first
accused escaped from lawful custody. It is a mere allegation. It is my
prayer that he be admitted to bail like any other person,” Mr Lumatete
said.
The case will be heard on July 4.
SOURCE DAILY NATION
SOURCE DAILY NATION
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