Catholic Priest Denies Sodomy Accusation

By Lucas Ng’asike and Moses Nyamori
Standard Digital
May 7, 2013

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000083190&story_title=Kenya-catholic-priest-denies-sodomy-accusation

Turkana, Kenya: A Catholic priest has been arrested and arraigned in court for allegedly sodomising a Form Three student in Lodwar.

Father John Manzi was charged in a Lodwar court with indecently committing the act contrary to section 11(A) of the Sexual Offences Act of 2006.

The priest pleaded not guilty before acting Principal Magistrate Harrison Barasa and the case was set for hearing on June 5.

He was released on a bond of Sh100,000 with one surety of a similar amount or cash bail of Sh80,000.

The student accompanied by his parents had reported the matter to the police after the said incident and filed a P3 form accusing the priest of sodomy.

Surrendered to police

The priest later surrendered himself to Lodwar police station on Monday where he was arrested and arraigned in court yesterday.

The case aroused a lot of interest in Lodwar with Catholics, priests and residents jamming the court.

Meanwhile, two minors were yesterday locked up at the Eldoret Juvenile remand for stealing sugarcane worth Sh100.

The duo, aged 17 and 15, were charged with stealing the farm produce before Eldoret Resident Magistrate Caroline Watimmah.

The court was informed that the teenagers committed the crime in Kilimani village, Lugari District on May 5.

They pleaded guilty of stealing sugarcane belonging to Mr Rodrick Mafunga.

The court was informed that the two boys were found carrying the sugarcane from Mafunga’s farm.

The court was informed that the teenagers committed the crime in Kilimani village in Lugari District on May 5, this year. They pleaded guilty of to the charges.

In mitigation, the accused said they were very hungry at the time of committing the crime and cut the sugarcane from Mafunga’s farm.

Probation report

They pleaded for leniency.

The magistrate, however, ordered they be remanded at the Eldoret Juvenile remand awaiting a probation report.

The case will be mentioned on May 20 before the same magistrate.

Elsewhere, suspected highway robbers have been arraigned before a Nakuru court.

Jackson Ngumo Mathenge, Joseph Murimi and Hassan Olelkumeni faced a charged of stealing a lorry on May 2 transporting over 200 bags of cement from Nairobi to Bungoma.

They denied the charges and were released on a Sh3 million bond or Sh1.5 million cash bail.