Defence lawyers in the Sh1.57 billion National Treasury scandal have been granted four months to examine voluminous prosecution documents before the corruption trial proceeds to hearing.
Anti-Corruption Court Magistrate Rose Ndobi allowed the request after lawyer Bare Musa told the court that the defence required sufficient time to scrutinise the documents supplied by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
Musa explained that the documents were extensive and largely comprised bank statements, making it necessary for the accused persons and their legal teams to have adequate time to examine the evidence and prepare their defence. He argued that the volume of financial records required a thorough review before the commencement of the hearing.
In a separate application, lawyer Danstan Omari urged the court to direct the EACC to produce all outstanding documents and serve them on the parties in person. Omari said the arrangement would help address logistical challenges associated with the delivery of the documents and ensure that all parties received the necessary prosecution materials.
In her directions, Magistrate Ndobi urged both the prosecution and defence teams to avoid filing unnecessary applications that could delay the progress of the case.
Among those charged in the Sh1.57 billion scandal are PROFIT Programme Coordinator John Ngure Kabutha, National Treasury Head of Accounting Unit Namwel Moturi Motanya and Senior Accountant John Maina Muriithi. Others facing charges include business proprietors and company directors Gladys Juliet Oroni, Brian Kiprop Chepkarat, Ian Kwemoi Chepkarat, Josephat Kamau Kamoshe, James Omwodo Ndai and Jimmy Carter Odoyo Osodo.
According to the charge sheet, Kabutha and Project Accountant Billy Otieno Obango allegedly abused their positions by authorising payments amounting to hundreds of millions of shillings to various private businesses.
The prosecution is expected to rely on financial records, including bank statements, as part of its evidence in the case.
