A sex worker has been charged with the offence of assaulting a colleague who was quoting low prices to clients seeking their services.
The suspect Mariam Imodia, who appeared before Mombasa Senior principal magistrate Vincent Adet, pleaded guilty to charges of occasioning actual bodily harm to Gladys Ahela.
The court heard that on the alleged day the victim Ahela had relocated to Saba Saba area within the Mombasa Central Business District ( CBD) following an influx of visitors from upcountry during the festive season.
However, the accused person was aggrieved by the Ksh150 price the victim was charging her customers and the many clients she was receiving in a day.
The magistrate ordered the victim to tell the court her side of the story.
“A client had earlier approached me and enquired how much l was charging. l said Ksh150. She [the accused] overhead our conversation and told the rest of us [sex workers] that l was charging lower prices which are usually charged in Likoni and not around Mombasa CBD. She warned me that their prices ranged from Ksh350 and above,” the victim Gladys Ahela narrated.
Gladys further told the court she was verbally attacked by Mariam Imodia whenever the accused person spotted her around their work area.
She said that Mariam indirectly attacked her by saying; “Wale wa kuuza bei ya chini wamefika” which loosely translated to “those who prefer to sell themselves at a cheaper price have arrived.”
Gladys further told the court that on the alleged day she felt aggravated by Mariam’s words and enquired from the suspect why she had developed a habit of attacking her.
“Upon asking her she attacked me and began beating me,” Gladys, who is heavily pregnant, said.
“Your honour judge huwa tunafanya kazi ya kufurahisha wanaume na Ile kitu Mungu alitupea bure and as you can see am younger compared to her so l know how to make my clients happy and that is why they keep on coming back,” she added.
On her side, Mariam admitted to the court that she assaulted the young sex worker after she rendered her and others jobless by charging low prices.
“Am a mother to two children l felt bad since she had taken all our clients,” she said.
In a quick rejoinder, the magistrate asked both parties how they wanted the matter resolved and the complaint informed the court that she wanted to be paid Ksh40,000 to cater for her medical expenses following the assault.
“I have been out of work following the assault. l have been jobless since l cannot have sex because l sustained injuries on my leg and hip. l request you to order her to compensate me for the days l have been unable to work and for my treatment,” Gladys said.
The magistrate ordered the suspect to be released on a cash bail of Ksh5,000.
He further allowed the duo two weeks to try and resolve the matter.
“I hereby order that you be released on a cash bail of Ksh5,000. During the two weeks, try to end the matter failure to which l will sentence you in accordance with the law,” Adet ruled.
Adet further warned the duo against engaging in fights.
Mariam had been charged with unlawfully assaulting Gladys thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.
The charges being that on November 23 this year at the Saba Saba area in the Mvita sub-county within Mombasa county she assaulted Gladys.
