A Nairobi court has ordered the preparation of a pre-bail report in the case of Brian Rono, who is facing charges of computer fraud related to an alleged extortion attempt involving the mobile phone of former Central Police Station OCS Samson Talaam.
Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Carolyne Mugo issued the directive on Tuesday, August 12, after the prosecution requested three days to compile the report.
The request was supported by Talaam’s lawyer, Danstan Omari, who termed the timeframe reasonable.
Rono, who remains in custody, informed the court of his intention to apply for bail and assured full cooperation with the judicial process if released.
“Your Honour, I am asthmatic and I am requesting to be taken to a medical facility for a check-up,” Rono told the court, adding that his phone was confiscated during his arrest.
The court granted his request for medical attention and directed that he be escorted to a hospital for examination.
The magistrate also ordered the investigating officer to appear in court on August 19 to explain the circumstances surrounding the seizure of the accused’s phone.
Rono is accused of hacking into the phone belonging to former OCS Talaam, a key suspect in the ongoing investigation into the murder of blogger Albert Ojwang.
The phone was reportedly part of digital forensic evidence under review by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
The case will proceed on August 19, when the court is expected to rule on Rono’s bail application and review progress on the pre-bail report and the status of the seized devices.
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