Police in Trans Nzoia are investigating an incident in which a 27-year-old robbery suspect took his own life in police custody.
Reports indicate the suspect, who was arrested on Friday for breaking into a building at Kesogon Shopping Centre with intent to commit robbery, took his own life at Kesogon Police Station in Trans Nzoia East Sub-County at 8 p.m. on Friday night.
The incident was discovered by a police officer on duty who was carrying out routine checks.
The officer found the door of the cell locked from inside.
“I went to check on the suspect who was in the post’s cell pending collection to Kipsaina Police Station, and that is when I realized something was wrong,” an officer at the facility told the media.
The officer said he saw the suspect’s body hanging from the ceiling upon peering through the window.
The police report said the deceased had hanged himself with a sisal rope from the roof of the cell.
“The body of the deceased had strangulation marks on the neck, and we are waiting for the autopsy report,” Trans Nzoia County Criminal Investigations Officer Francis Kihara confirmed.
The Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) is aware of the incident.
The body of the deceased has been taken to the Kitale District Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination.
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