Mumias East Member of Parliament, Peter Salasya, failed to appear in court on Tuesday to address allegations of assault and bodily harm leveled against him, citing health issues as the reason for his absence.
Mumias Senior Resident Magistrate, Marcella Onyanya, consequently ordered the lawmaker to appear in court physically on Wednesday.
Magistrate Onyanya also instructed the investigating officer to furnish the court with a comprehensive medical report from Aga Khan Hospital, where MP Salaysa claimed to have been admitted.
The controversial legislator faces charges of assaulting Malaha-Isango ward MCA, Peter Walunya Indimuli, at a funeral last Friday. He was released on a Ksh.50,000 cash bail.
Advocates, led by Arnold Magina, representing the complainant, urged the court to revoke the accused’s bail terms due to his failure to comply with court orders.
Magina argued that like any suspect, Salasya should have adhered to the court’s directives and presented himself to face the charges. As a consequence of his absence, Magina proposed that the cash bail be forfeited to the State, and a warrant of arrest be issued against the MP.
Magina further contested the lack of documentation presented to the court explaining why MP Salasya failed to appear, dismissing claims of hospitalization as there was no supporting evidence.
He emphasized the need for the accused to submit a report to the court detailing the timing and nature of his alleged hospitalization.
“If he has the stamina to post on his social media platform while the court is in session, it’s very unfair because that is very evident that he can address the court,” Magina stated.
Additionally, Magina accused the legislator of intimidating key witnesses and suggested that Salasya might be in the Ekero area rather than in the hospital, as claimed.
This perspective was supported by the investigating team, which presented tracking data indicating that the MP was in Ekero, Mumias, and not at Aga Khan Hospital as asserted.
The prosecution urged the court to review the accused person’s past records and determine an appropriate punishment, emphasizing the lack of respect for the court by the MP.
“The accused has chosen not to respect the court. His advocate, Harmston Maloba, indicated that he is admitted in the hospital but has not provided evidence on the same. Warrants should be issued against him, and a mention date placed before this court, latest on Friday,” stated the prosecution.
MP Salasya’s lawyer, Maloba, defended his client against allegations of threatening witnesses, terming them as false.
