- Sancho Kibutu fled to Kenya in 2013 after being convicted of killing a 16-year-old in a drunk-driving crash in California
- Kenyan authorities arrested the fugitive in Nairobi at the request of the United States after over a decade on the run
- The ODPP and DCI worked with the FBI and US Justice Department to complete the extradition process in just four weeks
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FB) has commended Kenya's Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for their role in tracking down and extraditing a man who spent 13 years evading justice after a deadly drunk-driving incident in the United States.
Source: Twitter
Sancho Kibutu, also known as Sancho Kibuto and Njoroge Kibuto, was arrested in Nairobi on September 9 this year following a formal request from the US government.
He was transferred to American custody Friday, October 23, and flown to California to face sentencing.
"Federal Bureau of Investigation greatly appreciates the work done by the Kenyan Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Directorate of Criminal Investigations in successfully tracking down Kibutu and securing his extradition. This continues to demonstrate the close collaborative partnership between the United States and Kenya on international criminal matters," a statement published on the FBI's official website read.
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Kibutu had been convicted by a Madera County jury in 2013 for gross vehicular man-slaughter while intoxicated.
The charges stemmed from a crash on August 13, 2011, in which his vehicle veered into oncoming traffic on Golden State Boulevard and collided head-on with another car carrying four occupants.
A 16-year-old passenger in the other vehicle died as a result. Three others sustained serious injuries.
Kibutu, who was intoxicated at the time, escaped with minor injuries.
He was due back in court in October 2013 for sentencing but absconded to Kenya before the hearing. A bench warrant was issued on that date, and he remained a fugitive for 13 years.
The extradition was handled through the Kenyan courts and coordinated between the ODPP, the DCI, the US Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, the Madera County District Attorney's Office, and the FBI.
The entire process, from arrest to handover, took four weeks.
"The extradition process, facilitated by the DPP and other agencies through the Kenyan courts, lasted four weeks," the ODPP said in a statement.
FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Brian Tosh said the outcome demonstrated the bureau's commitment to pursuing fugitives regardless of where they fled.
"The FBI actively and regularly collaborates with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to ensure every defendant answers their charges in a court of law, ensuring justice for crime victims," he said.
Tosh addressed Kibutu's decision to flee directly.
"Sancho Kibutu fled to Kenya to avoid responsibility for a fatal drunk driving accident that seriously injured three other people. He underestimated the FBI's resolve," he said.
The FBI noted that it continues to work with both domestic and international partners to locate and apprehend individuals who flee jurisdiction after being charged with state crimes, and that it posts fugitive cases on its Most Wanted webpage and app to assist with public tip-offs.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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