Businesswoman Josephine Kabura and 10 other people on Tuesday faced 16 fresh charges relating to money laundering, purchase of prime property and state-of-the-art vehicles with over Sh791 million stolen from the National Youth Service (NYS) in 2015.
The 11 denied the charges before Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku after the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji was allowed to amended the charges against them.
The prosecution was allowed to amend the amounts, dates and include one count of engaging in the transfer of Sh90 million into the K-Rep Bank account of lawyer Patrick Onyango Ogolla, funds the state claims were proceeds of crime.
In the case, Ms Kabura is charged alongside businessman Mr Ben Gethi Wangui, Mr John Kago, Mr Samuel Wachenje, lawyer Patrick Onyango Ogolla, Mr Anthony Kihara Gethi, Mr Benson Gachoka, Mr John Hope Vandamme, Mr Martin Gachara Wanjohi, Ms Charity Wangu and Ms Jedidah Gethi.
‘Money laundering’
All the 11 suspects have pleaded not guilty to 16 counts relating to transactions which the prosecution said involved the stolen funds.
According to the charge sheet, the accused are alleged to have committed the offence between December 2014 and April 2015.
The graft suspects are charged with jointly engaging an arrangement to buy a vehicle at a cost of Sh23 million between December 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015, using funds stolen from the NYS.
But Ms Kabura and Mr Kago also denied buying another car valued at Sh6.3 million using funds from the NYS loot.
The 11 are accused of allegedly colluding to wire the amount from NYS coffers and using part of it to purchase property through phony companies.
Ms Kabura, Mr Gethi, Mr Kago and Mr Ogolla are accused of arranging the purchase of the Sh23 million Range Rover.
In another count, the prosecution said Mr Samuel Mudanyi Wachenje alias Sam Mwadime purchased a Sh5.2 million Toyota Prado with the NYS loot.
Another count accuses Ms Kabura, Mr Kago, Mr Gethi and Mr Vandamme of buying another luxury vehicle, a Sh5.07 million Toyota Land Cruiser, using proceeds from the NYS scandal.
Mr Kago, Mr Gethi and Mr Paul Kinuthia Gachoka also allegedly purchased a Toyota Land Cruiser worth Sh 5.2 million with the same money.
Five of the suspects are further accused of transferring Sh77.6 million to an account belonging to Mr Gethi’s mother in Faulu Kenya bank. This incident allegedly occurred between December 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015.
Bail terms
The court, however, ordered the accused persons to remain on their earlier cash bails of Sh300,000 or an alternative bond of Sh1 million each.
In the case, nine of the 35 state witnesses have testified against the accused persons.
The case will be heard on September 10, 13 and 19,2019
