![It is alleged the suspects have been using organised groups to pile pressure on relevant authorities to regularise their fraudulent title deed. [PHOTO | FILE]](https://i0.wp.com/www.k24tv.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/COURT-HAMMER.jpg?resize=730%2C414&ssl=1)
Four suspects accused of forging documents indicating they own a Ksh944 million parcel of land in Donholm, Nairobi failed to appear in court on Tuesday, with each suspect giving an excuse for skipping plea-taking.
The four suspects are Alexander Hoops, Patrobas Owino, Peter Gitau and Peter Njoroge. Hoops is the former chief of Kayole.
The court was told that the four fabricated a title deed of a vast land in Savannah, Donholm. The property under dispute is said to belong to Gidjoy Investment Limited.
The accused were first taken to court in 2018 over the contested property.
It is alleged that they have been using organised groups to pile pressure on relevant authorities to regularise their fraudulent title deed.
The consolidated charge against them was to be heard before Milimani Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi on Tuesday, February 9, but none of the suspects appeared in court for plea-taking.
Patrobas Owino’s lawyer told the magistrate that his client was attending to a family emergency, and, therefore, couldn’t present himself in court.
“I called his (Owino’s) brother who told me that the accused had travelled to his rural home to attend to his ailing wife. Owino doesn’t have a phone after he misplaced his mobile device,” said the accused’s lawyer identified as Mr Nyongesa.
The lawyer representing two other suspects, Peter Gitau and Peter Njoroge, said his clients had a challenge logging in to the virtual system so that they could fparticipate in the court proceedings.
“However, they can come to court on March 2,” said the duo’s lawyer.
The fourth suspect, Hoops, wasn’t physically or virtually present in court, neither was he represented by a legal rep.
The prosecution’s counsel, Angela Fuchuka, told the court that she had asked the investigating officer to summon Hoops, who had been informed to log in to the court’s virtual system and take part in the proceedings.
Magistrate Andayi warned the four suspects against skipping court, saying there will be consequences if the absconding happens again.
The four suspects were, consequently, ordered to appear in court on March 2 for plea-taking.
In April 2018, a report by the National Land Commission (NLC) suggested the four had taken part in forging the title deed for a land in Savannah, Donholm.
