Migori Governor Okoth Obado and his four children on Thursday pleaded afresh to corruption charges over alleged embezzlement of Sh73.4 million from the county.
This is after the prosecution amended the charge sheet to include two more companies—Swifcon Engineering and Dolphus Softwares Ltd—as accused persons in the matter.
Even though the two companies are not associated with the Obados, they had to plead afresh to the charge sheet because it had been amended to include the two firms.
Obado denied the charges alongside his children Dan Okoth, Scarlet Okoth, Jerry Okoth, Evelyne Okoth, his alleged close associate Jared Kwaga, Joram Opala, Patroba Ochanda.
However, Christine Ochola, Peninah Auma, Carolyne Anyango, Tarchdog Printers Ltd, Kajulu Business Ltd and Dolphus Softwares Ltd did not plead to the charges.
Chief magistrate Lawrence Mugambi was informed that all of them were unrepresented in court except Anyango who the court heard was unwell and unable to attend court.
All the other accused denied the charges afresh and the court directed that the earlier bond terms issued by the court last year when they were first charged, will still apply.
They were all charged with the offence of conspiring to commit an economic crime contrary to the law. It is alleged that between October 29 2014 and October 18, 2016 within Migori county, they conspired to commit an economic crime which was unlawful acquisition of public funds Sh73.4 million from Migori county.
The county boss denied seven counts of conflict of interest where it was alleged that being a governor, he knowingly acquired an indirect private interest where his children received millions of shillings in respect of an agreement between the county and their companies.
He was also charged with several counts of money laundering where it was alleged that in one instance alongside his son Jerry, they entered into an arrangement for the transfer of Sh2.3 million for payment of school fees for Jerry at Sheffield University England an account of money transferred to Kwaga his close associate by entities paid by the county.
The state claims that effect of the transactions was to disguise the source of the said money whilst he ought to reasonable have known that the said money was part of proceeds of crime.
Obado was also charged alongside his three children with the offence of unlawful acquisition of public property where it was alleged that they unlawfully acquired Sh38.9 million from the county through companies and persons trading with the county government.
It was further alleged that the governor, his daughter Evelyn and businessman Kwaga unlawfully acquired Sh34.5 million from the county which was used to purchase a house at Loresho Ridge.
Meanwhile, Obado’s two daughters have requested the court to allow them to attend to the court hearings virtually claiming they both had medical conditions.
Through their separate lawyers, Scarlet and Evelyne presented to court medical records from Migori Referral Hospital showing why they should not attend physical court.
However, the defence did not disclose the nature of illness the two were suffering from but gave the magistrate to look at the reports saying it was private.
The prosecution said they had also had a chance to look at the reports but needed time to verify them before they could give court their opinion.
Mugambi noted that the two medical records produced by the sisters showed that they were suffering from the same illness.
He allowed the prosecution time to go and verify the two medical reports and give feedback to the court.
The case will be mentioned on November 8.
-Edited by SKanyara