Diplomat held over envoy’s death

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A news photographer walks on July 27, 2012 near the main entrance the Venezuelan embassy residence in a Nairobi suburb. Venezuela's acting ambassador, Olga Fonseca, was found strangled at her Nairobi home, Kenyan police said. Photo/AFP 

By ZADDOCK ANGIRA zangira@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, July 28  2012 at  23:30

IN SUMMARY

• Police hold eight as detectives try to unravel the mystery of the killing of Venezuelan ambassador Olga Fonseca

Police on Saturday arrested a senior official at the Venezuelan embassy in Nairobi in connection with the death of the South American country’s ambassador to Kenya, Olga Fonseca.

First Secretary Dwight Ashrubal Saragay was arrested after his diplomatic immunity was waived. Mr Saragay had been charge d’affaires after former ambassaor Gerardo da Silva left the country unceremoniously last May following allegations of sexual harassment.

Nairobi police boss Anthony Kibuchi confirmed the arrest.

Mr Saragay was taken to the Diplomatic Police Unit offices where he was questioned for hours by a team led by Nairobi CID boss Nicholas Kamwende before being locked up.

Police are also looking for a man identified as Dr Mohammed Ahmed, a resident of Thigiri Ridge, New Muthaiga, who is said to be a close associate of Mr Saragay. Detectives told the Sunday Nation that Dr Ahmed, initially thought to be an official at the embassy, could not be reached at his residence or by phone.

Dr Ahmed and Mr Saragay had been following the progress of investigations into charges of alleged sexual harassment against the former ambassador which had been reported to the DPU in Gigiri in April this year. But only Mr Saragay had recorded a statement.

Police sources said the two had been pursuing the matter against Mr da Silva, pointing out that if police did not take action, the reputation of the embassy would be dented.

A senior detective involved in the investigation, who sought anonymity, said Mr Saragay had indicated that his job was at stake if police did not take any action.

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Detectives also questioned four workers––Peter Busi, Julius Marilu, Zipporah Ilolo and Anjelina Musumb––for the second day running.

Mr Kibuchi said eight suspects had been arrested. Three were separately arrested in Kayole, Mwiki and Dandora.

Senior DPU officers said t Ms Fonseca, who arrived in Nairobi on July 15, had not been given a police escort nor was her residence guarded by police.

She had been staying at a hotel and had only moved to the embassy’s residence in Runda two days before she was killed on Thursday night.