Former Managing Director of Triton Petroleum Company Limited Yagnesh Mohanlal Devani has finally been charged at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court over the 2008 Triton oil case.
After being extradited from the United Kingdom, Devani faced the magistrate in Nairobi on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. He is implicated in a case that involves mortgagors, Emirates National Oil Company Limited.
“He is accused of selling diesel valued at Ksh32 million to Total Kenya Limited without the consent of Emirates National Oil Company Limited.
“In addition to the fraud charge, Devani faces other charges, including fraudulent disposition of mortgaged goods, eight counts of conspiracy to defraud, and one count of obtaining by false pretence,” the Office of Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said in a statement on X published on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.
According to ODPP, the court heard that Devani committed the offences with others before the court between September 5, 2008, and December 8, 2008. Jeremiah Walusala, Linda Otieno, Vincent Cheruiyot, and Phylis Kibaba led the prosecution on behalf of ODPP.
“The prosecution opposed the release of the accused person on bond, arguing that he is a flight risk. In their application to oppose bond, the prosecution urged the court to consider the accused’s previous record of escaping to the United Kingdom after committing the offence,” the statement added.
Devani sought asylum in the UK, where he remained for 16 years before he was finally extradited to come and face the charges in Kenya.
“They (ODPP) also informed the court that despite extradition efforts by EACC, DCI, and ODPP, the accused challenged the process in a UK court. It was only through bilateral cooperation between Kenya and the UK that the accused was eventually extradited and charged.
“The prosecution further pointed out that granting bond could lead to the accused seeking asylum in a country without bilateral cooperation with Kenya, making it difficult to proceed with the case,” it added.
Detained
Devani denied all the charges before Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki.
“The court directed that the accused person be detained at the Industrial Area Prison while awaiting the court’s decision on whether to grant bond to be delivered on August 19, 2024,” the DPP stated.
