Nairobi — Two Kenyan businesswomen wanted by the United States to answer charges of conspiracy to smuggle drugs were yesterday denied bail.

A Nairobi court said the two suspects could abscond as they faced a heavy penalty if were they were found guilty.

Magistrate Catherine Mwangi was ruling on a bail application in a case in which two sisters, Ms Dorothy Maju Henry and Ms Susan Kaluki Nzioki, and Ms Agnes Kamene are wanted by the US to face the charges.

The State had opposed the argument of the defence lawyers that an affidavit presented in court was defective.

The lawyers urged the court to disregard it and release their clients on bail.

But the State said the prosecution had given "strong grounds" against bail.

The court heard that the charges carried a life imprisonment penalty and $4 million (Sh312 million) fine in the United States.

However, the defence said extradition was bailable. The hearing for extradition was set for October 23.

They accused an inspector of police, Hezron Julu Mudho for swearing a false affidavit of opposing bail before court.

The defence said that the Criminal Investigating officer wanted to deliberately mislead the court.

Inspector Mudho told the court that on September 19, their office received a diplomatic request from the government of United States of America for the extradition of the two sisters. He said the suspects had been been indicted in their absence in the District Court of Columbia.

The police officer said that they had been indicted on one count of conspiracy to import Heroin into USA and five counts of importation of the drugs.

He added they received certified copies of indictment and warrants of arrest duly signed by the District Court of Columbia.