Court releases Nock boss F. K Pauls passport

The Magistrates’ Court has released passport belonging to National Olympics Committee-Kenya (Nock) Secretary General Francis Paul to enable him travel to Cairo, Egypt on official duty.

Paul – who was ordered to deposit his passport in court last year – is set to travel to Burundi in the coming week ahead of a five-day conference with International Olympics Committee (IOC) officials in Cairo later next month.

Duncan Ondimu who is prosecuting the case where Paul has been charge alongside three other Nock officials told the court that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is yet to deliver a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The DPP is supposed to make a wholesome decision on the embattled quartet with the file also touching on under fire Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario and Principal Secretary Titus Ekai.

“There’s another inquiry file that the DPP is yet to receive from the DCI,” Ondimu submitted.

Chief Magistrate Francis Andanyi directed that the passport be returned to court on March 27, three months before the hearing of the case.

In the case, Paul has been charged alongside First Vice-chairman Ben Ekumbo, Team Kenya for Rio 2016 Head of Mission Stephen arap Soi and Vice-chairman Pius Ochieng.

All four pleaded not guilty to charges related to conspiracy to steal, stealing by agent, stealing and fraudulent appropriation of games kit.

The four officials are facing seven counts in total with Soi charged with five of them.

The beleaguered Soi is accused of stealing USD3000 (Ksh112,000) contrary to Section 268 (1) as read with Section 275, failing to report conveyance of monetary instruments of USD234,000 (Ksh24,300,900) out of Kenya contrary to Section 12 (3) as read with Section 16 (3) of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Alternative to Count 3, he is charged with stealing USD234,000 (Ksh24,300,900) that was the property of the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture as well as stealing USD18,000 (Ksh1,869,300.00) which had been entrusted to him by Athletics Kenya President, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei for purposes of accommodation of federation officials during the Rio Games in Brazil.

The final count relates to stealing USD1,000 (Ksh104,000) the property of the Ministry on July 2o, 2016 at Kencom House in Nairobi.

Ekumbo has two counts, jointly with others not before court, the conspiracy to steal USD10,500 (1,090,425.00) contrary to Section 393 and stealing by agent contrary to Section 283 (c) when he allegedly carted away sports uniform from Nock headquarters in Nairobi.

Paul and Ochieng charged with fraudulent appropriation of games kit, contrary to Section 328 (b) (iii) of the Penal Code.

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