Nairobi, 17 April, 2020 / 2:00 am (ACI Africa).
The magistrate at Kenya’s Milimani Law Court, Martha Nanzushi has freed Fr. Richard Oduor, accused of “negligently” spreading COVID-19, on a cash bail of KES.150,000.00 (US$1,500.00) and ordered him to go into a 14-day self-quarantine after he pleaded not guilty to the charges, Fr. Richard’s legal representative has told ACI Africa.
The Thursday, April 16 court ruling was based on the charge sheet of Kenya’s National Police Service that reads, “Spreading infection contrary to section 186 as read with section 36 of the Penal Code.”
“Richard Onyango Oduor on diverse dates between 12th March 2020 and 20th March 2020 at diverse places within the Republic of Kenya you negligently spread an infectious disease namely CoronaVirus 2019 also known as COVID-19,” the charge sheet seen by ACI Africa further reads.
“He was ordered to proceed on 14 days self-quarantine as was directed by Kenyatta National Hospital when being discharged,” Francis Wasuna of Wasuna & Company Advocates, the lawyer representing Fr. Richard, told ACI Africa.
Mr. Wasuna added, “The case will be mentioned on 4th May 2020 to fix a hearing date.”