Police given three weeks to complete Olympic Games probe

Police have been given three weeks to complete investigations into allegations that three National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) officials might have contributed to the loss of funds, kit and the general mismanagement of Team Kenya during the Rio de Janeiro games.

Team Kenya head of delegation Stephen arap Soi, Nock secretary-general Francis Paul Kanyili and Team Kenya general manager Pius Ochieng were on Monday released on cash bails of Sh200,000 each pending the conclusion of the investigations. Their case will be mentioned on September 19.

The lawyer for Mr Soi, however, told the court that his client failed to turn up because he had been taken ill and admitted to a Nairobi hospital. Mr Soi will appear in court tomorrow afternoon.

Magistrate Charity Oluoch directed that Mr Kanyili and Mr Ochieng to meet certain bond conditions so as not to interfere with the ongoing inquiry.

In her ruling, the magistrate ordered the suspects to deposit their passports in court and to report twice a week to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

“The accused should refrain from interfering with the investigations, including contacting witnesses or appearing at the Nock premises. They must also not leave the jurisdiction of this country without the court’s permission,” said Miss Oluoch.

DETAIN THREE

In his application, prosecutor Duncan Ondimu had sought orders to detain the three for 21 days, saying the accused were likely to interfere with the investigations owing to the influential positions they hold within the sports organisation. Mr Soi and Mr Kanyili were arrested last Friday and Mr Ochieng on Sunday in connection with the administrative irregularities in Brazil as well as the loss of Nike kit handed over to the team by the apparel manufacturer.

The prosecutor said during a raid at the Nock headquarters, the 2000 Plaza, on Mombasa Road, last Friday, a number of items were seized. They include computers, several documents relating to the Rio Olympic Games and sports kit believed to have been meant for the Kenyan team.

The prosecutor said the computers seized are yet to be submitted for detailed forensic examination.

In calling for the detention of the suspects, the prosecutor argued that investigators would require to travel to a number of towns within the country to conduct investigations and record witness statements.

The investigation will cover the day of the national trials, the residential training and the manner in which the Kenyan team was managed to determine if there was criminal culpability against the three and other individuals who are at large.

“A number of Nock officials are not yet back in the country. They include the chairman, Mr Kipchoge Keino. There is a need for him to shed light on what happened before, during and after the Rio Olympic Games,” said Mr Ondimu.

“The investigation being conducted involves the reputation of sports, the management of sports in the country and the reputation of the country as a sporting giant. This honourable court must jealously guard the sports fraternity.”