Former Kenya Pipeline Managing Director Joe Sang is now a free man after the Anti-Corruption Court acquitted him from allegations relating to the loss of funds during the construction of the Ksh1.9 Billion Kisumu oil jetty.
In a judgment rendered by trial magistrate Victor Wakumile, the court freed Sang and his five former senior managers for lack of evidence.
Sang had been charged alongside company secretary Gloria Khafafa, head of procurement Vincent Cheruiyot, procurement manager Nicholas Gitobu General Manager of finance, and Samuel Odonyo general manager of finance and general manager in charge of infrastructure Billy Aseka.
” I find that all prosecution witnesses were unanimous that the construction of Kisumu Oil Jetty was indeed planned before construction and way back in 2006 before most of the accused persons were employed by Kenya Pipeline Company,” said the magistrate.
He said the charge of engaging in a project without prior planning was defective both in law and fact. The other charges of abuse of office and wilful failure to comply with applicable and guidelines relating to the management of public funds also fell.
The court also threw out claims that Sang illegally authorized payment for the project.
The magistrate also noted that no payment was made beyond the approved budget of Ksh 1.9 billion.
While acquitting them the charges, Wakumile said that the project was planned way back in 2006 while most of the accused persons had not been employed at the company.
The court noted that the shows that they deliver the project and we’re not supposed to be charged.
“The entire case against all accused collapses under section 215 Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) they are now all acquitted,” said Wakumile.
They were accused to have committed the offence between June 2016 and June 2017
