This archive report was first published on 2 September 2019.
September 2, 2019, marked a significant development in the Dennis Itumbi forgery case as Samwel Gateri Wanjiru, a key witness, petitioned the court to expunge his testimony.
Wanjiru claims that he was coerced into signing a document by DCI detectives, which he alleges was presented to the DPP and is to be used against Itumbi in court.
According to Wanjiru's court papers, he was subjected to intense interrogation and had his phone seized, with the officers claiming he was under arrest and would be executed if he did not confirm having a conversation with Deputy President William Ruto, with Itumbi as his link.
Wanjiru's petition, filed as a matter of urgency, seeks to have his testimony expunged from the proceedings and for the court to order the return of his national ID and access to his bank accounts.
Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku directed that the petition will be heard on Tuesday, with Itumbi not required to appear for the hearing.
Itumbi is accused of forging a letter outlining an alleged assassination plot against Deputy President William Ruto.
