The Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has released new evidence discovered from Migori Governor Okoth Obado's home and is set to use it in the Ksh73.4 million corruption case.
State Counsel Eva Kanyuira stated that they found 500 new documentary pieces of evidence which will be vital for the case.
Kanyuira was speaking during the hearing of the case on Tuesday, October 12, when she also told the court the evidence would be referenced by a witness and that they wanted to issue the same documents to the defence.
She submitted, "That during the pre-trial session with Evans Rono a witness in the matter and whom the prosecution intends to call as PW 1 it was discovered that there were some more documents which the witnesses will make reference to which had inadvertently not been supplied to the defence."
According to the ODPP, some documents were obtained from Obado's home in Uriri, Migori and others including an evaluation committee report for a meeting that was held on June 8 to 14 of 2014 were found at the County Government Headquarters.
The State also obtained an offer for a sale agreement for Loresho Ridge townhouse dated August 12, 2014.
Bank account statements from a local bank and an international bank account with details of payment for a room for Obado's daughter at the South University of Aberdeen were obtained by the top prosecutor in the case.
The magistrate was requested by the State Counsel to grant the ODPP more time to have the defence team go through the new evidence before the trial commences.
Kanyuira stated, "We are of the view that subject to the court directions learned counsels be given an opportunity to peruse those 500 documents and also the draft amended charge sheet before the case can proceed to a hearing."
On the other hand, lawyer George Kithi led the defense team in opposing the request by the prosecutor, arguing that the case needs to proceed without them being given an opportunity to go through the new evidence.
Obado and his four children, Susan Scarlet, Jerry Zachary, Evelyn Adhiambo, Dan Achola Okoth, are charged with the alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to Ksh73.4 million. A businessman Jared Kwaga and some other officials are also facing the charges.
On August 27, 2020, he was charged with 22 counts of contravening various sections of the Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
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