By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
The Nairobi Anti-Corruption court has on Thursday 25th July 2024 issued a warrant of arrest against Humphrey Wende Abok, an Accountant at the State Department for Correctional Services, and businessman Joseph Kariuki.
The warrant comes after the two suspects failed to appear in court for the third time.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) the two suspects were expected in court on Thursday to answer charges of fraudulently acquiring over KSh 300 million as payment for goods not supplied to the State Department for Correctional Services.
The offense was allegedly committed between July 1, 2014, and March 29, 2018, by Humphrey Wende and Joseph Kariuki along with others who are also before the court.
“The two suspects were expected in court on Thursday to answer charges of fraudulently acquiring over KSh 300 million as payment for goods not supplied to the State Department for Correctional Services. This offense was allegedly committed between July 1, 2014, and March 29, 2018, along with others who are also before the court,”
Prosecuting Counsel Wesley Nyamache informed the court that the suspects were summoned and aware of the court case against them.
He further told the court that Humphrey had relocated from his residence and his phone remains switched off.
Principal Magistrate Celesa Asis Okore issued a warrant of arrest against the two suspects and directed them to be affected by the Officer Commanding Station – Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission police station.
Upon their arraignment in court ODPP noted that the suspects will face charges of Fraudulent Acquisition of Public Property among other charges once arraigned in court.
“Once arraigned, the suspects will also face charges of Abuse of Office Contrary to Section 46 as read with Section 48 of Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, No.3 of 2003, Fraudulent Acquisition of Public Property Contrary to Section 45(1) (a) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act and Money laundering contrary to Section 3(a)(i) as read with Section 16 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act,” Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions stated on X.
The ODPP said that the case will be mentioned on August 1, 2024.