German man charged with sexually assaulting minor in Kilifi granted Ksh.1M bond

A German citizen charged with sexually exploiting a child was on Thursday arraigned before a Kilifi court and freed on a Ksh.1 million bond with two Kenyan sureties.

The defendant, Netzband Tim Marvin, is facing charges of child trafficking, child pornography and promoting sexual offences with a child.

He is reported to have committed the offences on diverse dates between January 1 and February 9, 2024.

"It is alleged that on diverse days between 1st January 2024 and 9th February 2024 at Mtondia area Kilifi North sub-county of Kilifi County, he sexually exploited a 15-year-old child after transporting her using his vehicle from the Maghreb hotel, Sea Horse area to his house in Mtondia area," the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said in a statement on X.

"On the second count, he was charged with child pornography, contrary to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act No. 5 of 2018. It is alleged that at an unknown date in the Mtondia area of Kilifi North sub-county within Kilifi County, he transmitted pornographic images to the victim through WhatsApp."

Marvin was also charged with promoting a sexual offence with a child.

"The charges are that on the 6th day of February 2024 at an unknown location within the Republic of Kenya, he promoted a sexual act to a child aged 15 years by distributing a nude picture via WhatsApp account on his mobile phone," said the ODPP.

The case has been scheduled for hearing on March 14, 2024.