Sarah Wairimu, the widow of the late Dutch businessman Tob Cohen, has faced a series of setbacks in her ongoing trial, as the court denied her bond application for the second time. This decision came amid fresh allegations of witness intimidation and evidence tampering.
On the second day of proceedings, two key witnesses took the stand in the high-profile case, which is being heard at Cohen’s former Kitisuru home. One of the witnesses, a scene-of-crime officer, revealed that the crime scene had been tampered with, with authorities accusing Wairimu of interfering with the investigation. Notably, Wairimu had been granted custody of the property just a month ago, but that order was vacated following the discovery of evidence tampering.
Frank Anunda, a retired scene-of-crime police officer, testified about his involvement in uncovering critical evidence. He described how an underground water tank at the scene, initially concealed under discarded furniture and branches, was found to have been tampered with. Investigators discovered that the floater regulating water flow had been altered, causing the water to stop flowing into the tank. Inside, Cohen’s body was discovered, covered in plastic sheets and tied at the hands and legs. The gruesome discovery pointed to clear interference with the crime scene.
Further evidence of tampering was noted by Anunda, who emphasized that the condition of the property had changed since 2019 when Cohen’s body was initially found. According to the witness, additions had been made to the property, including a fence that was not present during the time of the crime.
The court also heard allegations that Wairimu had intimidated a police officer involved in the trial. Justice Diana Mochache referred to an incident in which Wairimu allegedly threatened the officer on three occasions. In response, the judge ordered that an affidavit be filed by Wairimu’s defense, with a commitment not to interfere with prosecution witnesses. The prosecution has lined up 78 witnesses to strengthen their case as they seek to secure a conviction against the main suspect.
