Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-01-30 11:37:51
The charges against 13 suspects in a Sh122 million case involving Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula have been dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions. However, those who have been freed must agree not to sue for damages due to malicious prosecution.
The case against Mr. Savula and his two wives, Melody Gatwiri Ringera and Hellen Kepkor Kemboi, will still proceed, as they are not off the hook. In the suit, seven companies associated with the leader and his spouses were accused of fraudulently obtaining Sh122,335,500 by falsely pretending they could provide advertising services in magazines with wide circulation in Kenya.
The accused were also charged with conspiracy to steal the money between July 1, 2015, and August 30, 2018 at the State department for broadcasting in Nairobi. The prosecution has applied to drop the charges, stating that there is no evidence to sustain the case against the freed suspects.
Former PS Information Sammy Itemere, Edith Kainda, Amos Matanga, Gladys Bwora, Gladys Isaka, Aggrel Ateka, Rachel Wanjiru, Nellie Kibocha, Sammy Makau Mule, Martin Njoroge, Hannah Wangari, Edmond Munene, and Victor Owino are the individuals whose names were dropped.
The DPP announced that the case against Savula and his wives will be fast-tracked while proposing to amend the charges against the remaining accused. Defense lawyers for the acquitted suspects did not oppose the application but expressed dissatisfaction that it took over six years to clear the matter, as the 13 were first arraigned in 2018. They also stated that the freed suspects were brought to court without evidence against them.
