DPP Haji orders trial of KPA retirement officials in Sh700m fraud
What you need to know:
- DPP Noordin Haji said there was sufficient evidence to sustain charges of conspiracy to engage in corruption, breach of public trust, abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property and dealing with suspect property.
- Chairman Fredrick Otieno Oyugi will face the first three charges in the fraudulent sale agreement for the purchase of 100 acres of land in Kikambala at Sh700 million.
The director of public prosecutions has approved money laundering and five other charges against management, trustees and an advocate of the Kenya Ports Authority Retirement Benefits Scheme, 2012.
The case concerns a fraudulent sale agreement for the purchase of 100 acres of land in Kikambala, Kilifi County, at Sh700 million.
THE CHARGES
In a statement on Wednesday, DPP Noordin Haji said there was sufficient evidence to sustain charges of conspiracy to engage in corruption, breach of public trust, abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property, dealing with suspect property and money laundering.
Chairman Fredrick Otieno Oyugi will face the first three charges.
Lawyer Joseph Kanyi, of Kanyi J & Company Advocates. and Kikambala Development Company Limited director Jane Njeri Karanja will be charged with conspiracy and money laundering.
Mr Kanyi alone will be arraigned on the allegation of fraudulent acquisition of property.
The others who will face the charge of conspiracy to commit corruption are Maurice Milimu Amahwa (pension administrator), and trustees John Karema, Renson Thoya Juma, Harry Arigi and Joy Asiena.
IMMEDIACY
Ephraim Maina Rwingo, another director of Kikambala Development, will also face the conspiracy charge alongside Kikambala, as a separate entity, and Seline Consultants Limited.
Mr Amahwa and the four trustees will also answer to the charges of breach of public trust and abuse of office.
Mr Rwingo and Seline Consultants, which he serves as director, will additionally be charged with dealing with suspect property.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission submitted its first report on the investigation on July 1, 2016 but Mr Haji asked for a further probe to determine whether there were additional charges.
The second report was presented to the office of the DPP on August 7, 2018.
Mr Haji asked the commission to "ensure immediate arraignment" of the suspects.
KEY CASE
Meanwhile, Senior Principal Magistrate Felix Kombo earlier on Wednesday refused to reprimand the media on complaints by investigators about the coverage of an ongoing case against Kenya Power's former senior managers.
Former managing directors Ben Chumo and Ken Tarus, and 12 others, are facing various charges in the case of the purchase of faulty transformers worth more than Sh409 million.
The trial began Monday, the prosecution saying it will show how the 14 people hatched the plan to defraud the company.
The prosecution has lined up a total of 45 witnesses.
