Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Saitoti probe told of missing witnesses



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The scene of the Police helicopter crash in Kibiku, Ngong forest on June 10, 2012. The Eurocopter was carrying Kenya's Internal Security minister George Saitoti, his deputy Joshua Orwa Ojode along with two pilots and two bodyguards who all died in the crash. Photo/Anthony Omuya
The scene of the police helicopter crash in Kibiku, Ngong forest on June 10, 2012. The Eurocopter was carrying Kenya's Internal Security minister George Saitoti, his deputy Joshua Orwa Ojode along with two pilots and two bodyguards who all died in the crash.   Photo/ANTHONY OMUYA/NATION MEDIA GROUP
By VINCENT AGOYA vagoya@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Tuesday, October 9  2012 at  20:34
IN SUMMARY
  • Efforts to trace four men seen running away from the accident scene barely 10 minutes after the crash had failed, Ngong CID boss Julius Emase told the commission led by Lady Justice Kalpana Rawal.
  • Contention over a forensic report indicating that one of the pilots in the helicopter died of carbon monoxide poisoning also re-emerged at the inquest.
  • Mr Emase, on cross examination, said he was not aware  his deputy had kept the forensic report to himself rendering it  “impossible to be acted upon.”
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Key witnesses in the June 10 helicopter crash in which Internal Security minister George Saitoti died cannot be traced, the commission of inquiry formed to establish the cause of the accident was told on Tuesday.
Efforts to trace four men seen running away from the accident scene barely 10 minutes after the crash had failed, Ngong CID boss Julius Emase told the commission led by Lady Justice Kalpana Rawal.
“Up to now I have not met the four people and I do not know them. I want to record their statements,” he said, adding that he saw five men running away when he reached the accident scene soon after the helicopter came down.
After several inquiries around the neighbourhood, one of the men, Mr Salim Montet, who is a former police officer, was finally traced and he agreed to testify, said Mr Emase.
“Through a lot of effort Mr Montet showed up, I remember we found him through his sister,” he said.
Mr Montet has testified before the commission, saying he saw the aircraft, which was emitting smoke from its tail-end, flying low before it hit a tree.
Mr Emase said he learnt Mr Montet had been reluctant to show up and had gone underground following the accident. The other four men who were with him have not been found, Mr Emase said during cross examination by the lawyer representing the police,  Mr Gikunda Miriti.
The witness said they had learnt from police informants that Mr Montet knew something  as “he was heard talking to some people and we got concerned.”
Contention over a forensic report indicating that one of the pilots in the helicopter died of carbon monoxide poisoning also re-emerged at the inquest. (READ: Saitoti pilots inhaled ‘poison gas’)
Mr Emase, on cross examination, said he was not aware  his deputy had kept the forensic report to himself rendering it  “impossible to be acted upon.”
The lawyer  for the family of Prof Saitoti, Mr Fredrick Ngatia, suggested the accident should be referred to as an incident since it had an ingredient of a possible homicide, but Mr Emase responded:
“You are dragging me to another edge” and sought protection. Mr Ngatia was then directed to paraphrase his line of questioning. The hearing continues.

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