DPP Haji wants NYS suspects bail funds screened

Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji. He has directed the DCI to ensure that securities and funds presented by freed NYS suspects are not proceeds of crime.(Courtesy)

NAIROBI—Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji on Thursday has requested the Director of Criminal Investigation(DCI) George Kinoti to screen sources of the funds the suspects will deposit in court.

He wants to ensure that securities and funds presented by freed NYS suspects are not proceeds of crime.

“Concerns have been raised by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) that some of the funds intended to be used are not only suspect but the subject of the current cases,” the DPP said in a letter to the DCI.

The 48 suspects in the Sh9 billion NYS scandal were reprieved on Tuesday by the High Court’s decision to grant them release pending their trial.

Judge Hedwig Ong’udi freed them on Sh5 million bond with sureties of Sh2 million each, with concurrent cash bails of Sh1 million each.

Ongu’di released the suspects under austere conditions which include surrendering their passports and never going to their offices without police officers. They are also required to present their securities in court and a copy of their identification cards.

Once released from remand, the accused persons, including former Youth Affairs PS Lillian Omollo, will have to report to the DCI offices in Gigiri once every week until further orders are issued by the court.

Their release come 23 days after their arrest.

Earlier this month, Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti said he could not release them on bond because they are facing serious economic crimes with the potential of causing anarchy, a threat to peace and national security.

The suspects are facing charges ranging from abuse of office, conspiracy to commit economic crimes, willful failure to comply with applicable laws and theft of public property.