By Frank Kamuntu
A Chinese woman has been arraigned for allegedly stealing cables and energy equipment belonging to Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) and Kenya Power.
The woman appeared before Mavoko Law Courts and faced counts of theft and alternative charges of handling stolen goods, charges she did not plead guilty to.
According to the charge sheet, Minghuin, while in the company of others not before the court, stole 350 metres of copper wire valued at KSh 700,000, property of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO).
She was accused of committing the offence on diverse dates between April 30, 2023, and Tuesday, June 13.
Minghui also faced another charge of stealing where she was accused of stealing copper bars, copper earthing conductors and transformer fuses, property of Kenya Power and Lighting Company.
According to the court documents, the property was valued at KSh 600,000.
The charge sheet indicated that she committed the offence with others, not before the court in an unknown place within Kenya between April 30, 2023, and Tuesday, June 13.
The prosecution also alternatively levelled charges of handling stolen goods against the accused.
She was accused of handling stolen goods while at Jinxin Commercial Limited in Athi River, Machakos county on Monday, June 12.
“On June 12, 2023 at Jinxin Commercial Limited in Athi River, Machakos county aside from being in the course of stealing, dishonestly received or retained 98 metres of copper wires valued at KSh 196,000,” read the charge sheet.
Minghui also faced charges of handling vandalised energy equipment and appliances which contravenes section 169 (1) (c) of the Energy Act no. 1 of 2019.
Among the stolen goods were 98 metres of copper wires, copper bars, copper earthing conductors and transformer fuses valued at KSh 796,000.
She denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Eunice Kimaiyo and was granted a KSh 1 million bond with the same surety amount.
