Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons Benjamin Obuya and four others have been charged with the fraudulent acquisition of property worth 302 million shillings.
“Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons Benjamin Obuya and four others were today charged at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court with the alleged fraudulent acquisition of 302 million shillings, purportedly as payment for goods never delivered.
Obuya, alongside fellow employees of the State Department for Correctional Services Joseph Kamau (Principal Accountant), James Nyang’au Gekobe (Accountant II), Joseph Ochoki Omaiyo (Warder), and businessman Steven Kisonzo Mulwa, are accused of conspiring to commit economic crimes.” said ODPP
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The incident is reported to have occurred between July 1, 2014, and March 29, 2018 where the five acquired the public property from payments they received for supplying nothing. They were however released on Ksh 4 million cash bail.
“The charges specify that between July 1, 2014, and March 29, 2018, they fraudulently acquired public property totaling Ksh 301,908,000, supposedly for goods never received by the State Department for Correctional Services.
In addition to conspiracy charges, they are also accused of Abuse of Office under Section 46 and Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act No. 3 of 2003, Fraudulent Acquisition of Public Property under Section 45(1)(a) and Section 48 of the same Act, and Money Laundering under Section 3(a)(i) and Section 16 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Celesa Asis Okore, all accused parties pleaded not guilty to the charges and were each released on a bond of 7 million shillings, with one surety of equivalent amount or an alternative cash bail of 4 million shillings, and ordered them to surrender their passports to the court.
Prosecution counsel Wesley Nyamache requested the court to issue new summons against Humphrey Wende Abok and Joseph Kariuiki after they failed to appear in court for a second time which the court agreed with and issued fresh summons to the two. The case is scheduled for mention on August 2, 2024.” said ODPP
