This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
On Tuesday, August 13, 2019, Mombasa County Police Commandant Johnstone Ipara led a search at the Nyali residence of businessman Ali Punjani, as part of a narcotics investigation. The search, which was accompanied by sniffer dogs, turned up Sh57,000, one roll of bhang, and three foreigners, including a Nepalese woman.
According to Ipara, the three suspects, identified as Karki Shushmija, Shiva Prasad Bashyal, and Ranoj Ram, were arrested for lying to the police about how they gained entry into the house. The police had initially claimed that the keys to the house were with someone in Kwale, but Ipara questioned how the three suspects accessed the house without keys.
Meanwhile, Bofu MCA Ahmed Salama Omar, who was arrested as part of the probe, was released without charges after the State failed to link him to the narcotics trade. In Lamu, Kizingitini police boss Shadrack Mumo, who was arrested on Monday in connection with the release of a suspect, was not arraigned in court. Police said they had constituted an internal tribunal to discipline him.
On Monday, Ipara declared Punjani's house a crime scene and ordered the tycoon to present himself to the nearest police station. Ipara alleged that Punjani was directly or indirectly involved in the drug business, citing intelligence reports linking him to narcotics from 17 suspects, including the MCA arrested in Likoni.
Ali Punjani's lawyer, Jeff Asige, who was present during the search, said he could not explain how the three occupants accessed the house. The police announced that they would continue their search at another of Punjani's houses.
