Twenty six foreigners have been arraigned in court for taking up jobs as dancers in Nairobi night clubs.
They also faced the charge of being unlawfully present in the country.
The foreigners, of Indian origin, denied the charges and were given cash bail of Sh30,000 each and ordered to deposit their passports with the Immigration department until their cases are heard and determined.
According to the charge sheet presented before chief magistrate Gilbert Mutembei the 26, most of whom are young women, are said to have been performing as dancers and singers at two bars- Tia Maria bar and Mehifil bar.
One group consisting of Yogesh Kumar, Harif Mohammed , Razia Patel, Saidan Seira, Suleiyan Shawari and Pheroze Mohammed answered to the charge of taking up jobs as dancers at Tia Maria bar in Nairobi’s Diamond Plaza building without valid work permit authorising them to engage in any business.
It is alleged that they committed the offence on September 10, 2010.
The second group was charged with taking up jobs as dancers and singers at Mehifil bar along Chiromo lane in Westlands without work permit and in contravention of the Immigration Act.
The foreigners denied the charges and their case will be heard on October 13 and 14.
The prosecution wanted the foreigners to be denied bail arguing that they do not have their passports giving an impression that their nationality is not known clearly.
This was objected to by lawyers Manjit Billings, David Oyatta and David Majanja saying the offence against the 26 is a bailable one.
Secondly, the lawyers said that the prosecution knew the nationality of their clients since they had indicated that in the charge sheet.
The magistrate disagreed with the prosecution’s argument saying it is self defeating because it is indicated in the charge sheet that the accused persons are from India.
Source: Daily Nation
Comments