Bungoma Principal Magistrate Tom Olando has ordered the release of self-proclaimed Messiah, Yesu wa Tongaren, from police custody.
This came after the prosecution stated that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) findings provided no grounds to charge the self-proclaimed messiah, whose real name is Eliud Wekesa.
As a result, the prosecution requested that Principal Magistrate Tom Olando release him and dismiss the case.
The leader of the New Jerusalem Church appeared in the Bungoma Law Courts, where he was represented by Lawyer Prof. George Wajackoyah.
An officer from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) informed the Court during the hearing that the State had decided to close Yesu wa Tongaren’s file.
Yesu wa Tongaren briefly expressed his dissatisfaction with his arrest and arraignment, noting that he cooperated fully with the investigators.
Yesu wa Tongaren also revealed that he was able to accompany DCI officers to his home while they investigated his religious beliefs.
“Tulienda na maafisa wa polisi kwa boma wafanye uchunguzi, na bahati nzuri ilikuwa siku ya Jumamosi ambaye huwa ni siku ya Sabato. Polisi walihesabu sadaka wakapata ni shillingi 225 na nyanya kidogo na vitunguu,” Yesu wa Tongaren stated.
The State informed Bungoma Principal Magistrate on Friday, May 12, that Yesu wa Tongaren was being investigated for suspected cultic activities.
The Preacher was also being investigated for possible radicalization, money laundering, and acquiring proceeds of crime.
The investigators also looked into whether he taught radical ideologies to his followers, some of whom were minors.
Yesu wa Tongaren was arrested on May 10, 2023, and has been in police custody ever since.
