Ex-NBK boss Munir Ahmed released without charge after airport arrest

Former National Bank of Kenya chief executive Munir Ahmed was detained at the Milimani Law Courts basement cells for over three hours on Friday before he was released without charge.

Mr Ahmed had been pulled out of an aircraft on Thursday night after police claimed he wanted to flee the country.

But his lawyer Paul Muite told journalists that he was going on holiday accompanied by his wife and "young family" after his passport was released by police to allow him to travel out of the country.

"We are going to file a petition next week against the head of [the] Banking Fraud Unit, who has attempted to charge Mr Munir without involving the DPP [Director of Public Prosecutions]."

There had been a standoff at the prosecution's office after a state counsel declined to sign and admit the charges against Mr Ahmed on the grounds that the investigation file had not been forwarded to the DPP for approval.

"The state counsel has refused to have his powers abused by the police; we are now heading to the Banking Fraud offices to obtain a police bond for Mr Munir," Mr Muite said.

KILELESHWA CELLS

The former CEO was arrested at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and taken to the Kileleshwa Police Station, where he spent the night in the cells.

The bank sacked Mr Ahmed in April this year over claims of financial malpractices. He and five other managers were fired in the wake of huge financial losses at the bank.

Police officers who accompanied Mr Ahmed to court said he was likely to face fraud charges.

"The notion that he was fleeing the country and would not return was far-fetched; he was flying to Dubai for holiday," Mr Muite said.

The lawyer said it was degrading for Mr Ahmed to be hounded out of the aircraft in front of his wife and four-year-old son and be detained in the cells without the involvement of the DPP.

Mr Muite said Mr Ahmed’s passport had been returned to him so he could fly out of the country and wondered why he was being arrested.

"It is only a court of law that can impound a passport," Mr Muite clarified.