Chinese diner boss is finally freed on bond

Lawyer Cliff Ombeta calms Ms Zhao Yang down after she broke into tears of relief in a Nairobi court on March 31, 2015 when she was released on a bond of Sh100,000 after three days in custody. PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Restaurant barred blacks after 5.
• Woman had been in prison for three days after State opposed bail.

By VINCENT AGOYA
More by this Author

A manager at a Chinese restaurant in Nairobi that discriminated against blacks has finally been released on bond.

The reprieve for Ms Zhao Yang came after the prosecution dropped its objection to her release and the magistrate ordered her to deposit a bond of Sh100,000.

Ms Zhao, who was being held for being in Kenya illegally and running a business without a licence, spent three days at the Lang'ata Women’s Prison.

“The application for denial of bail has been recanted by the prosecution as it is no longer opposed to her release on bail as long as she deposits her passport in court,” said Magistrate Edda Agade.

Ms Zhao had, through lawyer Cliff Ombeta, pleaded for bail, saying she was willing to abide by any conditions.

Among the conditions was that she surrender her passport to the court and report to the Tourism Liaison Office at Utalii House in Nairobi every fortnight until the matter is heard and determined.

“In the meantime, this order can be reversed as and when the need arises or if circumstances change,” Ms Agade warned.

OBTAINED ORDER

Last week, the Director of Public Prosecutions obtained a custodial order against Ms Zhao and was allowed to detain her for two days.

The prosecution had told the court that she had lived in the country illegally for close to two years.

It also claimed she had no fixed abode and had refused to surrender or disclose details of her immigration status.

She has denied all the charges.

Ma Zhao is the relations manager at the controversial Chinese Restaurant which had a policy barring admission to black Kenyans after 5pm.

On Tuesday the case against her was set to be heard on June 8 and a mention for April 14.

The magistrate directed that witness statements and copies of all documents that the prosecution intended to use in court be released to Mr Ombeta.