Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama and former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Gladys Boss Shollei. PHOTOS | FILE |
A new twist has hit the corruption case facing former Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Gladys Boss Shollei over the procurement of a Sh130 million residence for Chief Justice Willy Mutunga as Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama sought to be enjoined as an interested party.
The Senator's lawyer Tuesday interrupted proceedings on a point of order stating that a company associated with the Senator is alleged to have “received a benefit from Ms Shollei, as detailed in a charge sheet while the true facts are that he supplied documentation to an investigating officer attesting otherwise.”
“Our client believes that the dignity of a trial is at stake in these proceedings, the charge facing the first accused purports that he received a benefit while documents he gave to the investigating officer including bank statements showing the transfer of funds reveal something different,” Mr Harun Ndubi said on behalf of the Senator.
Mr Ndubi was told to hold the application until the court reconvenes on July 18.
Ms Shollei has denied charges relating to the suspected illegal procurement of the CJ residence.
She is charged with improperly conferring a benefit to Johnson Nduya Muthama Holdings Limited from whom the palatial residence in Runda estate Nairobi was purchased.
Ms Shollei is also charged with wilful failure to comply with the law on management of public funds as the Judiciary’s accounting officer and engaging in the project without prior planning.
She was charged alongside her former deputy Kakai Kissinger and five former members of the Judiciary’s tender committee who are accused of approving the payment.
Shollei lawyers "frustrated"
Lawyers representing Ms Shollei in a separate abuse of office case which was also mentioned Tuesday complained of being frustrated in their efforts to secure necessary documentation in the case.
They said the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) were yet to supply copies of tender documents relating to a contract for the building of courts in Runyenjes which gave rise to a second corruption case against the former judiciary boss.
