Covid-19 whistleblower Godwins Otieno Agutu and two others were arraigned on Friday and charged with abduction, impersonation, obtaining money by false pretences, forgery and stealing.
Agutu, Alex Mutua Mutuku, and Ken Kimanthi Gicovi are said to have falsely presented themselves as employees of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to Vijay Patel, a director of Hytec Investments.
The prosecution told the court that the incident occurred on September 25, 2020, at Kombo Munyiri Road in Nairobi County.
Further, the suspects are said to have abducted and detained Patel.
The court heard that the three obtained Sh500,000 from Patel by pretending that they were KRA employees, claiming that they could help him resolve a tax evasion case.
The prosecutor while opposing bail said Agutu is the chief executive officer of the Network Against Corruption, a non-govermental organization that partners with the government in the fight against graft.
Further, the court said that the second and third accused are Agutu’s employees, contracted as a personal assistant and driver, hence his release on bail may lead to witness tampering.
Some of the other witnesses in the case, the prosecution said, are Agutu’s employees and they have not yet recorded their statements.
State prosecutor Everlyne Onunga said that Agutu is a serial offender and is facing similar charges at Makadara Law Courts.
The three pleaded not guilty before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Daniel Ndugi.
