Former Kenya Sevens and Kenya Harlequins player Alex Olaba has been sentenced to serve 8 years in jail for hatching a plot to kill a prosecution witness in his gang rape case four years ago.
A city court magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo slapped Olaba with the sentence after finding him guilty of two charges of attempted murder and interference of witnesses in the case in which he is charged alongside former Kenya Rugby Seven player Frank Wanyama over gangrape that was pending before Milimani Chief Magistrates court.
In his sentencing, the magistrate noted that the accused was remorseful and vowed to never repeat a similar offence in the future
Also Read:
However, he ruled that the purpose of the sentencing is to ensure that he was accountable for his mistakes and to deter any other person who intends to commit similar offences.
"Although the accused person seems to be remorseful the offences he faces are serious offences. l, therefore, sentence him to serve six years in count one of conspiracy to commit conspiracy to kill and two years imprisonment in the second account of interference with judicial process. The sentences will run concurrently," the magistrate ruled.
Olaba was jailed after the court on May 10, 2023, convicted him of attempting to kill the key prosecution witnesses in his rape case.
"After evaluating the evidence on record, l find the prosecution has established a prima facie case against the accused. I, therefore, convict him accordingly," the trial magistrate stated in his judgment.
During the hearing of the case, the prosecution witnesses including investigating officer George Otieno told the court that Olaba made several attempts, directly and indirectly, to contact a State witness in the gang rape case with the intention of interfering with his trial.
He said when Olaba failed to get a positive response, he resorted to unlawful and desperate means to silence the witness.
Alex Olaba's arrest
Alex Olaba was arrested at Madaraka Estate, Nairobi in 2022 by undercover detectives on the night he was planning the said murder.
Police told the court that Olaba had approached another party seeking ways to eliminate the witness in the case before police were informed.
According to the prosecution, the approached party was apparently an undercover officer. It is alleged that on diverse dates between April 14 and 22, 2022, jointly with other suspects, he conspired to kill the unnamed witness.
The second count states that on April 22, 2022, Olaba interfered with the trial process in the gang rape matter, by attempting to cause the death of the key witness.
