The Covid-19 Millionaires Whistleblower and Chief Executive Officer of Network Action Against Corruption (NAAC), Godwins Otieno Agutu, has been charged with abduction and bribe solicitation.
Earlier, Kenyans recognized Mr. Agutu as the hero who exposed the Covid-19 multi-million shillings scandal at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA). However, after the expose that surprised Kenyans, new reports showed that the whistleblower was also culpable.
Mr. Agutu was charged with ten counts of forgery, government officials personating, abduction, and fraud. According to the charges, he defrauded Vijay Patel Sh500,000.
The Covid-19 multi-million shillings scandal at KEMSA was about corruption in the supply of Covid-19 equipment. Unfortunately, Mr. Agutu, who was at the forefront in exposing the scandal details morphed into a criminal as per the charges imposed on him.
The prosecution denied him bail saying, “Investigations conducted so far revealed that the accused is a habitual offender having serious charges of a similar nature. Releasing him on bail will allow him to continue defrauding other unsuspecting citizens using his network and connections."
The charges for personating government officials were were placed on Mr. Agutu, his personal assistant Alex Mutua Mutuku, and his driver Ken Kimathi Gicovi.
According to the charge sheet, they personated Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers to defraud Mr. Patel Sh2 million.
The charge read, "On September 25 at Hytech Investment Shop within Nairobi City County, you jointly with intent to defraud falsely presented yourself to be employees of KRA and EACC to Vijay Patel so as to defraud him some money."
The prosecution also charged Mr Agutu and his two employees with abduction, claiming that on September 28th, they abducted Mr Patel and detained him. Later, they pretended that they relieve him of KRA taxes and forced him to pay them Sh500,000.
The charge sheet also showed that Mr Agutu was charged with two counts of forgery whereby he forged a staff employment card, posing to be an employee at the Office of the President. The NAAC CEO also forged a government vehicle's
registration number plate.
The prosecution's decision to deny Mr Agutu bail has reinforced an affidavit sworn by investigator Arnold Mwai to oppose their release on bail.
Mr Mwai argued that Mr Agutu is quite influential, meaning that he can intimidate and interfere with witnesses and evidence when released on bail.
No comments:
Post a Comment