NYS suspects plead not guilty, prosecution opposes their release

NYS suspects plead not guilty, prosecution opposes their release

Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Lillian Mbogo-Omollo and National Youth Service (NYS) Director General Richard Ndubai have pleaded not guilty to charges leveled against them over the Ksh.9 billion scandal at NYS.

Ms Omollo and Mr. Ndubai were arraigned before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti where they were charged with abuse of office, willful failure to comply with applicable procedures on guidelines relating to the management of public funds among other charges.

Thirty-one other NYS suspects were charged alongside Ms. Omollo and Mr. Ndubai at the anti-corruption court where they pleaded not guilty to several corruption charges including conspiracy to commit an economic crime and to defraud over Ksh.28 million.

The prosecution opposed the release of the suspects on bail and at the same time urged the court to issue warrant of arrests against the suspects who did not appear in court.

It was the prosecution’s argument that if the accused are released on bail, they are likely to interfere with witnesses.

Similarly, they argue that the evidence gathered so far is strong and sufficient to secure conviction against all the accused persons and hence there is likelihood of them absconding if released on bail.

“There are compelling reasons to warrant the detention of the accused persons pending hearing and determination of their case,” reads the affidavit.

The Magistrate, however, directed that the court first deal with the taking of plea and would later address the issues of suspects absent in court and lastly on bail.

The prosecution says it has 10 files on different matters and different transactions on the money involved in the scandal and wants each file treated separately in terms of bail application.

The Magistrate declined a plea by the prosecution to have the case adjourned to Tuesday over security concerns and on grounds that it was getting late in the day.

“If adjourned the accused will stay in custody for the third day with no fault of their own. We will proceed to the conclusion of the motions. I’m aware that security has been beefed up in this premises we are operating from and that security should not be an issue. Any part seeking for a health break including the court shall communicate accordingly. So we shall proceed,” ruled the judge.

The accused persons were still taking plea by Tuesday 9pm.

Tags:

corruption NYS NYS scandal

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