- The police constable together with the woman are said to have lured the man to the room under the pretext of offering massage services.
- When the man arrived at the room, he was held captive and the captors demanded a ransom of S200,000 (USD1500).
Image: The Star
A police officer and a civilian were arrested in a probe into claims of abduction of a man at a short-stay room in Pangani area, Nairobi.
The two appeared before Makadara Law Courts on Tuesday and were charged with the offence of trafficking in persons and demanding money with menaces.
They both denied charges and were released on a bond of Sh1 million and similar surety.
The mention date of the case was set for November 26 and the hearing for March 4, 2025.
The police constable together with the woman are said to have lured the man to the room under the pretext of offering massage services.
When the man arrived at the room, he was held captive and the captors demanded a ransom of S200,000 (USD1500).
The drama started on August 24.
The victim told police he pleaded with the abductors who included the woman, two other men and the officer attached to Border Patrol Unit in Kanyonyoo to give him time and access to his mobile phone to plead with his relatives and friends for money.
The abductors who included three men took a video of him in handcuffs and pleaded for help.
According to police, the victim was allowed to send the same video to his brother asking him to look for the needed money urgently.
He warned him against involving the police.
They held him overnight on August 24 until the following day when they sent the video to the brother.
The brother rushed to Pangani police station and reported the matter.
A team was sent to investigate the saga and traced the victim to an apartment where he was rescued on August 25.
Police arrested their colleague and found him with a mobile phone belonging to the victim.
Police said they are looking for more suspects linked to the drama.
Such cases have been on the rise in the city.
Most victims are lured by women to rooms before they are taken hostage and a ransom demanded.
Police say some victims fear to report the incidents as this will affect their families.
A team of detectives is investigating the trend.
Last week, three women were arraigned for assaulting a Norwegian woman in Nairobi.
The three Fihima Yusuf Abdii, Rayan Abukait Ali and Hibo Mohamood Abdullahi appeared before Kibera court and were charged that they unlawfully assaulted Maria Abdisalam Ali thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.
The incident happened on July 25 at an apartment in Kilimani area, Nairobi. The three who are all foreigners were released on cash bail.
Maria says she was also robbed of cash and a mobile phone in the drama on July 25 by people known to her.
Police are investigating claims some of the suspects have criminal links in their country.
Maria said she was on holiday in Kenya when she was invited to a house where the incident took place.
She reported cases of robbery with violence, attempted gang rape and assault causing grievous bodily harm at Kilimani Police Station, which was recorded.