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The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has seized 121 ‘official’ stamps for various companies from a suspect in Bomet.
The suspect, who is a Road engineer in Bomet, is accused of being part of a scheme involved in the alleged loss of Sh1.2 billion.
EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi said the payments were made to companies owned by county officials between January 2019 and May 2022.
He said that the suspect fled from the search operation scene leaving detectives in his house.
The suspect had established a full-fledged office believed to be for making fake documents used in processing the alleged fraudulent payments for non-existent construction works through collusion involving top county officials.
During the operation, the Commission seized 121 official stamps (100 from his house and 21 from his office) for various companies, which he is believed to be using in making fake documents for ghost construction works.
Other items recovered from his house include various procurement documents suspected to be forged for allegedly facilitating fraudulent payments including ‘approved’ contacts for various companies, bid documents awaiting approval signature, local purchase orders, unused payment vouchers, procurement requisitions for various construction works and requests for payments to various companies, all suspected to be fake.
According to EACC, the suspect owns several companies that have allegedly been awarded multi-million tenders and payments made for non-existent or substandard works.
Ngumbi said that six other Bomet CECs are wanted over alleged embezzlement of Sh373 million.
EACC said that the six suspects allegedly used the money to procure 12 heavy road construction machines and trucks in the Financial Year 2022/2023, which cannot be accounted for.
“The suspects, who have been recording statements at EACC offices following the Thursday search operation, are accused of abusing their positions of trust and authority to embezzle public funds through collusion, procurement fraud and payments for non-existent or substandard services,” Ngumbi said.
EACC said the Thursday operation, which is part of ongoing investigations yielded valuable evidentiary material that will support the finalisation of the investigation.
The Authority added that the outcome will inform the prosecution of culpable persons and recovery of any assets found to have been acquired through corrupt conduct.
