The High Court has stopped the release of controversial televangelist Gilbert Deya pending the hearing and determination of an objection by the DPP.
On December 21 last year, Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi had ordered for his release on Sh1 million bond and two sureties of the same amount.
He cited the expiring of a 120-days ultimatum by the Judge to the Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko to conclude his investigations.
However, Justice Luka Kimaru cancelled the release on Tuesday following an application by the DPP through his deputies Nicholas Mutuku and Victor Mulei.
The DPP argued that the magistrate’s move to release Deya on bond was unjustified, unlawful and improper because the 120 days given to the prosecution are elapsing today.
Deya’s lawyer John Swaka objected to the prosecution’s application arguing that it was an abuse of the court process.
He said his client has a right to be granted bond since the prosecution team has failed to line up witnesses as required within the 120 days granted by the court.
In September, the court denied Swaka’s application for bond. It gave the prosecution team 120 days to conclude investigations.
Deya was deported from the UK on August 4. He is facing child trafficking charges.
He has since been remanded at Kamiti Maximum Prison and was expected to be released this morning.
The televangelist who has amassed a lot of wealth in the UK is accused of stealing four children between 2002 and 2004.
The four children all aged under 14 were found in a house at Mountain View estate which ostensibly belonged to him.
DNA tests results from the government chemist showed that none of children had any biological affiliation to Deya and his wife Mary Deya.