DPP presses more charges on Turkish businessman

News

DPP presses more charges on Turkish businessman

Monday, February 25, 2019 20:57

By BRIAN OCHARO

A Turkish business magnet Elsek Osman Erdinc who is accused of defilement and aiding child prostitution spent last weekend in police cells after the Director of Public Prosecution pressed new charges against him.

Mr Osman suffered a major blow after DPP introduced new charges including that of forging baptismal certificates.

On Friday evening, the foreigner who owns a construction company, was locked up at Kilifi police station after denying the new charges.

He was charged before a Kilifi court shortly after his sex abuse case before a Shanzu court was transferred to Malindi due his close relations to the court and to a state prosecutor.

Mr Osman was whisked away in a police car by detectives after Shanzu Senior Resident Magistrate David Odhiambo transferred his case.

In the new charges, the state says the suspect forged two baptism cards of two minors who are under his custody.

According to the prosecution, "Mr Osman, with intent to deceive, jointly with another, forged baptism cards for two minors purporting them to be documents issued by Heritage Centre".

He is additionally accused of making a false statement to the registrar of births in respect to the two minors. The businessman was charged alongside another suspect said to be the mother of the minors.

The prosecution said the suspect committed the offences in 2004 and on August 24, 2006 at unknown place in the country.

The Kilifi court postponed a ruling on his bail application to Tuesday.

While transferring Mr Osman’s defilement, the magistrate said the suspect has close relations with the court, a factor that might tilt justice.