A Nairobi court has ordered the preparation of a pre-bail report for Brian Rono, who is facing computer fraud charges over an alleged extortion attempt involving the phone of former Central Police Station OCS, Samson Talaam.
The directive came from Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Carolyne Mugo after the prosecution sought three days to compile the report. Rono, who remains in custody, told the court during Tuesday’s mention that he intends to seek bail and promised to attend all future hearings if released.
The accused also asked to be taken to hospital for treatment, telling the magistrate he suffers from asthma. He further claimed that police officers took his phone during his arrest. Magistrate Mugo directed that he be escorted for medical examination and ordered the investigating officer to appear in court on August 19 to explain the circumstances surrounding the phone seizure.
Lawyer Danstan Omari, representing the former OCS, supported the prosecution’s request for a short delay, calling it reasonable. The prosecution said the issue of the seized phones would be addressed at the next court session.
Rono is accused of hacking into Talaam’s phone a device that was among those under forensic examination by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). Talaam himself is a suspect in the murder of blogger Albert Ojwang.
