This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
September 17, 2019
Sarah Wairimu, the wife of late Dutch businessman Tob Cohen, has pleaded with a court to release her on bail to allow her to defend her property rights in a dispute with Cohen's family.
Lawyer Philip Murgor told the court that Wairimu has a 50% stake in a property jointly owned with Cohen and needs to be out fighting for her rights.
"My client and the deceased are embroiled in a divorce case that is pending in court. Among the contested properties are their house worth Sh400 million, which should be shared equally," Mr Murgor said.
Wairimu has been in detention in connection with the disappearance of her estranged husband, whose body was found after a two-month search.
State counsel Nicholas Mutuku told the court that they needed more time to conduct a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of Cohen's death.
"It is true the matter has taken long but some of the delay has been occasioned by the defence because they took us in circles on the whereabouts of Cohen. It is not a ploy from us to get more time as alleged," Mr Mutuku said.
Justice Jessie Lessit barred the defense and police from addressing the media on matters related to the case and directed all parties to agree on a date for the mental health test, which must be done before September 26 when the matter will be mentioned.
