Treasury auditor on the run as 20 are charged with NYS looting

Some of the suspects in the NYS scandal at the Milimani court on June 4, 2018. The court will rule on their bond terms this afternoon. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The number of those charged rose to 42 after 20 more who surrendered to the authorities on Saturday and Sunday appeared in court on Monday.

  • Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji made public a list of 54 suspects last week but eight are yet to appear in court.

  • Detectives said they are sure of arresting those who defied the summons because most of them are civil servants.

Several suspects in the Sh469 theft scandal at the National Youth Service are yet to be charged after they defied calls to surrender.

A court issued warrants of arrest for two of them on Monday.

The number of those charged rose to 42 after 20 more who surrendered to the authorities on Saturday and Sunday appeared in court on Monday.

Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji made public a list of 54 suspects last week but eight are yet to appear in court.

Those missing are Treasury internal auditor Josephat Njoroge, three NYS employees Patrick Obunya, Ezekiel Ombaso Osoro and Stephen Macharia and the former deputy director in charge of MTB at NYS Peter Waema.

IN HOSPITAL AND JAM

Mr Humphrey Mbogo, an accountant at NYS, was represented by his lawyer Kamau Mbiu, who said his client was receiving treatment in Thika.

Warrants of arrest were issued against two directors of Arkroad Holdings Ltd – Anthony Wamiti and Peter Kimani – after an explanation given by their lawyer Kirathe Wandugi failed to convince the court.

According to DCI detectives, the company received Sh24.8 million from the NYS yet it rendered no services. 

Mr Wandugi had told the magistrate that the two directors could not appear in court because they were stuck in traffic.

“There is a terrible jam,” the lawyer said when the two were called to take plea. The reading of charges started at 11.05am.

Detectives said they are sure of arresting those who defied the summons because most of them are civil servants. The court directed one of the police officers to find out if Mr Mbogo was in hospital.

A report from the investigator will be tabled in court this morning.

NINE COMPANIES

Those charged on Monday were 20, bringing the total number of persons taken to court over the Sh468 million loss to 42 and nine companies.

Those who denied the charges yesterday include former acting finance director at NYS Wellington Lubira, Mr Clement Murage, a former chief accountant at NYS, Ms Tabitha Ndung’u, Mr Christopher Malala, Julius Airo among others.

Mr Don Kariungi, Mr Kenneth Mwathi, Ms Catherine Kamuyu, Ms Anderine Grace Nyambura Mbare and Ms Sarah Muguru were some of the traders who appeared in court.

The three women reportedly received Sh26.6 million from NYS through their company Ersatz Enterprises for goods not supplied.

After denying the charges, their lawyers pleaded with court to release them on bond.

The lawyers said they should be given reasonable bond terms to enable them prepare adequately for the trial.

The court said it would rule on the bail application this afternoon and remanded the accused.