The Former Deputy Auditor General Stephen Ndung’u Kinuthia, alongside 14 other suspects including his two sons have been charged with irregular procurement of audit software.
They are accused of procuring the software at a whopping 100 million shillings against the estimated cost of 18 million shillings. The prosecution wants them barred from accessing their offices and to deposit their passports with the court.
The Former Deputy Auditor General his two sons Mbugua Kinuthia and Karanja Kinuthia alongside 12 current employees at the auditor general’s office are accused of direct procurement of an audit software whose cost was inflated.
The prosecution says 64 million shillings was allegedly paid as kickbacks. The suspects denied the offences of conspiracy to commit an economic crime, conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property, dealing with suspect property and money laundering.
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The prosecution did not oppose their bail application but sought to have them surrender their passports and be barred from accessing their offices or contacting any of the prosecution witnesses. The bail application hearing is set for Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a suspect arrested over the weekend in Kiambu for theft has been detained for 7 days to allow the police conclude investigations.
Robert Mwaura Mwatia who is accused of being the mastermind of a cartel that fraudulently withdraws money from ATM’S using a code will be detained at Muthaiga Police station.
Police are analyzing CCTV footage in a bid to arrest other suspects.