Muthama seeks to be enjoined in Shollei fraud case

Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama and former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Gladys Boss Shollei. PHOTOS | FILE |

What you need to know:

  • Ms Shollei is also charged with willful failure to comply with the law on management of public funds as the Judiciary’s accounting officer and engaging in the project without prior planning.
  • She is charged alongside her former deputy Kakai Kissinger and five former members of the Judiciary’s tender committee who are accused of approving the payment.
  • Lawyers representing Ms Shollei in a separate abuse of office case which was also mentioned on Tuesday complained of being frustrated in their efforts to secure necessary documentation in the case.

A fraud case facing former Judiciary chief registrar Gladys Boss Shollei took a new twist on Tuesday when Machakos Senator sought to be enjoined as an interested party.

Mrs Shollei is facing a corruption case over the procurement of a Sh130 million residential house for the Chief Justice.

Senator Johnstone Muthama’s lawyer on Tuesday interrupted proceedings on a point of order stating that a company associated with his client is alleged to have “received a benefit from Ms Shollei, as detailed in a charge sheet while the true facts are that he supplied documentation to an investigating officer attesting otherwise.”

“Our client believes that the dignity of a trial is at stake in these proceedings, the charge facing the first accused purport that he received a benefit while documents he gave to the investigating officer including bank statements showing the transfer of funds reveal something different,” Mr Harun Ndubi for the senator said.

Mr Ndubi was told to hold the application until the trial court reconvenes on July 18.

Ms Shollei has denied charges relating to the suspected illegal procurement of the CJ’s residence.

She is charged with improperly conferring a benefit to Johnstone Nduya Muthama Holdings Limited from whom the palatial residence in Runda estate Nairobi, was purchased.

Ms Shollei is also charged with willful failure to comply with the law on management of public funds as the Judiciary’s accounting officer and engaging in the project without prior planning.

She is charged alongside her former deputy Kakai Kissinger and five former members of the Judiciary’s tender committee who are accused of approving the payment.

Lawyers representing Ms Shollei in a separate abuse of office case which was also mentioned on Tuesday complained of being frustrated in their efforts to secure necessary documentation in the case.

They said the EACC and the DPP were yet to supply copies of tender documents relating to a contract for the building of courts in Runyenjes which gave rise to a second corruption case against the former judiciary boss.

Proceedings were adjourned to July 1 to allow parties obtain the documents and present their grievances before the presiding magistrate Ms Liz Gacere.