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EACC wants Sh18m in ex-KPA chief’s Guaranty accounts

mulewa

Mr James Mulewa at a past court hearing. FILE PHOTO | NMG

The State anti-corruption agency wants Guaranty Bank compelled to release to it Sh18.4 million cash held in two accounts belonging to former Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) managing director James Mulewa.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has obtained a court decree ordering the release of the cash to it.

EACC also wants a notice issued against Guaranty Bank’s three senior officers and Mr Mulewa to explain why they should not be arrested and committed to civil jail for six months.

The bank’s officials are chief executive officer Olaboyo Veracruz, chief finance officer Angela Koech and branch manager Saida Al-Afif.

Through its lawyer Francis Makori, EACC also wants the court to prohibit Mr Mulewa from disposing of four parcels of land or dealing in them, pending determination of ongoing proceedings. In September 2017, the High Court ordered Mr Mulewa to pay the government Sh74.6 million for unexplained assets obtained during his time as a public official.

The former KPA MD was ordered to pay the government Sh63.6 million being cumulative bank deposits he made between August 31, 2008 and May 20, 2010.

According to EACC, it has started execution proceedings against the former KPA chief.

Through his lawyer William Wameyo, however, the former MD describes the application by EACC as defective since it purports to re-open proceedings in a case that is concluded.

Guaranty Bank through its legal officer Ms Josephine Wanjiru says it was served but the decree did not mention the bank had been ordered to release the money in Mr Mulewa accounts to EACC.