Lead image for Prosecution looms for Treasury officials in Sh1.5bn embezzlement case.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has approved charges against nine National Treasury officials and business people over the alleged embezzlement of Sh1.5 billion from a government programme intended to help small scale farmers access affordable financing.
The suspects face charges including abuse of office, unlawful acquisition of public property, uttering a false document, financial misconduct, acquisition of proceeds of crime and money laundering following investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
In a statement on DPP said it had received an inquiry file from the EACC concerning allegations of embezzlement of public funds by officials involved in coordinating the Programme for Rural Outreach of Financial Innovation and Technologies (PROFIT).
“Upon an independent and thorough review of the inquiry file, the DPP established that there is sufficient evidence to charge the suspects for offences including abuse of office, unlawful acquisition of public property, uttering a false document, financial misconduct, acquisition of proceeds of crime and money laundering,” the DPP said.
The nine suspects are Programme Coordinator John Ngure Kabutha, Namwel Moturi Motanya, head of the Accounting Unit at the National Treasury and senior accountant John Maina Muriithi.
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The others are Gladys Juliet Oroni, proprietor of Mawindo Enterprises, Brigs Agencies and Green Basil Agencies; Brian Kiprop Chepkarat, proprietor of El Konyinta Technologies; Ian Kwemoi Chepkarat, director of 020 Investments Limited and Vidi Vici Limited; Josephat Kamau Kamoshe, director of Blue Dart Agencies Limited; James Omwodo Ndai, proprietor of Ednas Agencies, Prozepp Technologies and Steeren Enterprises; and Jimmy Carter Odoyo Osodo, proprietor of Cadnic Investments.
The DPP has directed that all nine suspects, together with the implicated companies and businesses, be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction.