Josephine Kabura, 10 others to face money laundering charges
Ms Josephine Kabura Irungu when she appeared in court to answer to charges related to the alleged theft of Sh791 million from the National Youth Service. She was paid Sh1.29 billion and not Sh791 million as initially thought. PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Among the suspects are businessman Ben Gethi and lawyers who reportedly acted on behalf of those accused of being behind the theft.
- Ms Kabura, Mr Kago and Ms Charity Wangui Gethi are further charged with buying a Jeep Cherokee at Sh6.3 million with money obtained from the NYS.
A Nairobi court has summoned 11 people to answer to money laundering charges over the Sh791 million National Youth Service scandal.
Ms Josephine Kabura Irungu, who recently filed an explosive affidavit implicating former Devolution CS Anne Waiguru and other senior State officials in the scam, is among 11 suspects required to appear before the chief magistrate.
They are expected to answer to 15 counts of money laundering arising from investigations into the theft at the NYS.
Prosecutor Duncan Ondimu made an application before Senior Principal Magistrate Joyce Gandani, who directed the Banking Fraud Investigations Unit to execute the summons.
"The accused persons are not before court today, it is hereby ordered that they appear for taking of plea on March 8," the magistrate said.
Among the suspects are businessman Ben Gethi and lawyers who reportedly acted on behalf of those accused of being behind the theft.
The charges against Ms Kabura, Mr John Kago Ndungu, Mr Patrick Ogolla Onyango and Mr Ben Gethi read that between December 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015 in Nairobi they jointly engaged in an arrangement for the purchase of a motor vehicle registration number KCB 750Z, a Range Rover, at a cost of Sh23 million.
They allegedly engaged in the transaction knowing that the money used was from the proceeds of crime, namely Sh791,385,000 stolen from the NYS.
Ms Kabura, Mr Kago and Ms Charity Wangui Gethi are further charged with buying a Jeep Cherokee at Sh6.3 million with money obtained from the NYS.
TRANSFER
Mr Samuel Mudanyi Wachenje, alias Sam Mwadime, allegedly bought a Toyota Prado worth Sh5.2 million with the money, the prosecution says.
The fourth charge states that Mr Kago, Mr Antony Kihara Gethi and Mr John Hope Van Damme jointly made arrangements to purchase a Sh5 million Land Cruiser between December 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015 in Nairobi.
Ms Kabura, Mr Kago, Ms Wangui Gethi and Mr Patrick Ogolla are also charged with buying land worth Sh63 million in Roselyn Estate, Nairobi, using proceeds of the scam.
Mr Mudanyi and Ms Kabura are also accused of buying Clay City House at Sh21.8 million "while knowing that the money was the proceeds of crime namely the sum of Sh791 million stolen from the NYS".
The prosecution alleges that Mr Mudanyi also used Sh3.8 million to secure himself a plot in Ruiru.
Ms Kabura is further charged with an illegal transfer of Sh10 million into a Family Bank account in the name of Mr Sam Mwadime.
She is further implicated in arranging the transfer of Sh4.8 million to the account of Brownfield Developers Limited held at Diamond Trust Bank.
Mr Ogolla, Mr Martin Gachara Wanjohi and Ms Wangui Gethi are charged with jointly transferring Sh77.6 million to the account of Ms Wangui Gethi held at Faulu Kenya.
