Former Kenyan rugby Sevens (7s) star Alex Olaba has been accused of attempting to murder a prosecution witness in the rape case facing him and counterpart Frank Wanyama.

Appearing in court Friday, Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi ordered that Olaba spends 7 days in cells at the Kilimani Police Station as police conclude probe on the fresh accusation.

He is now accused of trying to murder a key witness linked to a gang-rape case filed in 2018 against him and Wanyama after they were freed last year on Sh300,000 cash bail each.

Alex Olaba and Frank Wanyama in court last year. PHOTO/COURTESY

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According to Police, Olaba had plotted the killing of a key witness and interfere with his rape case and had engaged the services of a hitman, who turned out to be an undercover sleuth.

He was nabbed by the officer during the meeting and detained at Kilimani Police Station and two mobile phones retrieved from him, which are being analysed for more evidence.

Police said they set a trap for the former Kenya 7s star after they got wind of his plot to eradicate the witness in a bid to frustrate the rape case filed by musician Wendy Kemunto.

Wendy Kemunto. PHOTO/COURTESY

Ochoi denied him bond after Olaba failed to appear in court physically on Thursday on grounds that he was stuck at his rural home in Western Kenya due to Covid-19 restrictions, only to be arrested in Nairobi on the same day.

He is expected back in court on April 30 for formal charging on the fresh accusations.

High Court in July 2020 released Olaba and Wanyama on bail a week after ordering a retrial after the two were sentenced to 15 years in jail in August 2019 after a gang rape conviction.