The family of Kevin Mugambi, a Kenyan man serving a three-year jail sentence in Saudi Arabia, has presented new evidence they hope could help overturn his conviction, over the transportation of alcohol allegedly belonging to two diplomats at the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh.
Mugambi was reportedly arrested after transporting alcohol in his personal vehicle, on behalf of two diplomatic officers who had purchased the drinks using their diplomatic privileges.
According to accounts shared by his family and friends, the two officers were allowed to purchase and consume alcohol because of their diplomatic status. Mugambi, who worked in the embassy's labour department, did not enjoy the same privileges.
The case took a difficult turn when Saudi authorities reportedly sought clarification from the Kenyan ambassador on whether the alcohol was being transported on behalf of other embassy staff.
However, the ambassador allegedly declined to provide a supporting letter confirming the arrangement. This reportedly left Mugambi without the official backing he needed to explain why he was carrying the drinks.
His family and friends claim the lack of confirmation contributed to him being held responsible for the alcohol, leading to his conviction and three-year prison sentence.
They have since questioned why a junior employee was left to face the legal consequences over drinks they maintain had been purchased by senior diplomatic officers.
The relatives say they have gathered fresh evidence that could support Mugambi's account of what happened on the day of his arrest. Among the documents they reportedly possess are receipts showing that the alcohol was purchased by the two diplomats on the same day.
The receipts could help establish who bought the drinks and support the family's argument that Mugambi was transporting them on behalf of other embassy employees rather than for personal use.
The family is now hoping the new material will help reopen scrutiny of the case and provide a basis for challenging the conviction. They continue to seek answers over the circumstances that led to the Kenyan employee's imprisonment in Saudi Arabia.
LINK: https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/129316-kenyan-embassy-employee-jailed-3-years-saudi-arabia-over-transporting-alcohol?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAcGRvZgRzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80MDk5NjI2MjMwODU2MDkAAR-yzk8EolOmnMejBlsbE55jE2Y46eOxNns_COsYwU0fSr8wXLPeayOWWa2l6w_aem_3QPo3zHjdbEnl4NVFfIdaQ
Leave a Reply