Businessman Kariuki pre-trial pushed to September 26
By Nancy Gitonga, September 6, 2019
The pre-trial conference for Sh41 billion tax fraud case against businessman Humphrey Kariuki and his co-accused has been pushed to September 26.
Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku set the date for the conference after it emerged that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is yet to furnish the accused with all original witness statements and evidence to be relied upon during trial.
“I urge the court to grant us 21 more days to enable us supply witness statements and other documents to be used in the cases,” said assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Vincent Monda.
He told the court the documents are voluminous as they include 10 boxes of invoices.
Monda said they had supplied some statements to the defence, but admitted there were more documents that needed to be provided.
The court heard that 27 witnesses are expected to testify against the accused persons.
Lawyers Kioko Kilukumi and Cecil Miller for Kariuki protested the delays by the prosecution in supplying them with witness statements.
Mutuku directed the prosecution to ensure documents are served on the defence before September 20 and file a inventory duly signed by the defence on or before September 26.