Kenyan Woman gets 6 years in US jail for assaulting 90 year old man

By BEN MJ MURIITHI in Atlanta.

A Kenyan woman has been sentenced to six years in a US jail for physically abusing an elderly man. Anastasia Olouch, 59, pleaded guilty in a Maryland court Thursday to three counts of abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult. She had been charged with attacking Johnny Taylor, 90, who was under her care in 2007.

The savage attack on the sickly old man caused a public uproar as it was caught on tape. Taylor’s daughter, Jackie Taylor, had installed a secret camera to establish the quality of care her father was receiving.

She monitored the house for more than three weeks, during which Ms Oluoch was recorded hitting the old man on the stomach and arms several times. She turned over the tape to the police who acted swiftly, arresting Oluoch and charging her with assault and reckless endangerment.

Ms Oluoch was released on bail on July 31 2007, but failed to turn up for the hearing. She had posted a US $5,000 bail and was originally set to go on trial on August 8, 2007, but she jumped bail and fled to Kenya. Immigration records show she left the US the same day she was released from custody.

The US government subsequently lodged a request to the Kenyan government for her extradition culminating in a joint coordinated effort between Interpol, the Baltimore Police Department and the Kenya Police.

Former Attorney General Amos Wako authorised proceedings against the fugitive and a warrant of arrest was issued by the Nairobi Chief Magistrate’s Court. Last year, Oluoch was extradited back to the US to face the charges. She pleaded not guilty in October but changed her mind on Thursday.

Taylor’s daughter told reporters outside the Baltimore Courthouse that she was very happy that justice had been served. “I know my dad is smiling in heaven because his daughter did not let him down,” she said.

Mr Taylor died in 2009.

Prosecutors said having the video helped them secure what could have been a difficult win in court.

"These vulnerable victims are not the best witnesses for obvious reasons, so to have video is extremely helpful," Baltimore City State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein said.

But what appeared to be a slam-dunk case, turned into an international problem for prosecutors.

A spokesman for the Baltimore City Police Department told the Nation that it was the first time they had been able to extradite someone internationally and secure a conviction, “this is a first for our department,” said Mr Julie Pitocchelli.

After Olouch fled back to her native Kenya before she could stand trial, It took five years for police to track her down.

Source: Daily Nation (22/02/2013): http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/1701280/-/wrgb05z/-/index.html