Former National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) official Stephen Soi who is challenging a 17-year jail term has suffered a major blow after the High Court declined to release him on bail pending appeal.
In a ruling delivered on Thursday, Justice Esther Maina of the High Court declined to grant Soi the bail saying he has not demonstrated sufficient and exceptional grounds for the bond.
Justice Maina further ordered the appeal to be expedited considering Soi’s health condition.
“I will expedite the hearing of the appeal as the health condition of the accused person has been brought to the attention of this Court. The application for the bond is hereby dismissed,” Justice Maina ordered.
Soi was in September convicted to a 17-year jail term after failing to raise the Ksh115 million fine imposed on him after he was found guilty of misappropriation of funds and abuse of office in Rio Olympics scandal.
In his appeal, he argues that he is dissatisfied with the said sentence and conviction adding that his appeal is arguable with high chances of success and if bail is not granted at this stage, the appeal will be rendered nugatory.
He says he is 65 years old and suffers from several chronic diseases which require constant attention from his personal doctor.
“The appellant requires constant medical check-ups and as such being held in custody may limit his rights to access to medical attention,’’ Soi said.
It is his argument that the magistrate erred in law by ruling that he unlawfully authorized payment of excess allowances to team Kenya.
