NYS scam suspects stay longer in jail as bail money verified

The 47 suspects charged with the Sh468 million National Youth Service scam will spend more days in remand as Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji sought more time to verify their sureties and the source of funds posted as bail to secure their release.

In an application made before a Nairobi court on Thursday Mr Haji, through senior assistant DPP Daniel Karuri said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) needed one week to verify the sureties.

Mr Karuri made the application when two of the suspects, suspended Youth Affairs PS Lilian Omollo and Peter Kimani met all the requirements the High Court had imposed for their release.

Ms Omolo, through her lawyer Stephen Ligunya, deposited Sh1 million in court as directed and executed the sureties but her release was delayed after the prosecution asked for more time to verify the sureties.

The release of Mr Kimani, a director of Arkroad Holdings Limited, a firm which is alleged to have fraudulently received Sh24 million National Youth Service cash, was also delayed following the application.

Mr Karuri said some of the sureties such as vehicles had been recently transferred to other persons. The prosecutor said Antony Makara Wamiti, a director of Arkroad, transferred ownership of one of the vehicles estimated at Sh6 million that had been presented as surety to Alice Wamai a week ago. He said they found out about the transfer a day ago.

However, Mr Ligunya told the court that the move was only meant to frustrate the accused persons because they had complied with all the requirements.

Suspended NYS director-general Richard Ndubai, through his lawyers, were still pushing for the verification of the sureties at the DCI in Gigiri.

READ: Ngiritas can’t afford Sh5m NYS case bond

He paid the cash and deposited a logbook of his car worth Sh4 million. His brother stood as his surety. NYS chief finance officer Wellington Lubira presented two car logbooks worth 3.5 million and his wife sought to stand as his surety.

Mr Karuri tabled a letter from the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji that directed DCI director George Kinoti to ensure that securities and funds the suspects presented to the court were not linked to the Sh468 million scandal.

In a letter dated June 20, Mr Haji asked Mr Kinoti to ensure that the suspects did not use proceeds of crime to secure their release.

The suspects are required to execute a bond of Sh5 million, produce sureties of Sh2 million and deposit cash bail of Sh1 million in court as part of the conditions for their release.

“Concerns have been raised by the Assets Recovery Agency that some of the funds intended to be used are not only suspect but the subject of the current cases,” the DPP said in a statement.
The court will rule on the matter today.