A sex worker has been charged with assaulting a coworker who was giving low prices to people who wanted to hire them.
When she went to see Mombasa Senior principal magistrate Vincent Adet, the suspect, Mariam Imodia, pleaded guilty to causing Gladys Ahela real bodily harm.
The court heard that on the alleged day of the crime, the victim, Ahela, had moved to the Saba Saba area in Mombasa's Central Business District (CBD) because the holiday season had brought a lot of people from upcountry.
But the person who was accused didn't like how the victim charged her customers Ksh150 and how many customers she had in a day.
The judge told the victim to explain her side of the story to the court.
"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.
Jobless
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.