DPP wants Musalia aide, four others charged with fraud

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has ordered the Director in Office of Prime Cabinet Secretary (OPCS) Press Service Salim Swaleh and four others to be charged with Sh5.8 million fraud.

This is after the DPP declined a request by Swaleh and four others to review the police file for the purpose of withdrawing the fraud charges against them.

When the case came up for mention yesterday before Milimani Chief Magistrate Bernard Ochoi, Senior Prosecutor James Gachoka informed the court that he has instructions from his boss to have the accused persons plead to the charges.

“The request by the accused persons to have the police file reviewed has been declined by the DPP who has ordered them to take a plea,” said the prosecutor.

The magistrate deferred the plea taking to next Wednesday.

A week ago, Gachoka had informed the court that the accused persons had written to the DPP seeking to have the criminal charges against them reviewed.

Gachoka asked the court to have the plea deferred to yesterday to enable the DPP to review and make the final decision on the matter.

Swaleh through his lawyer Danstan Omari had earlier informed the court that he had written a letter to the Ingonga and adduced new evidence in the fraud allegations case for him to consider before they answer to the new charges.

The DPP had on July 31, 2024, approved three charges of conspiracy to defraud, attempt to obtain money by false pretenses, and abuse of office against Saleh, Otieno Japolo Michael, Terry Kemunto Sese, Daniel Omondi Gogo, and John Musundi Wabomba.

Swaleh is accused on June 24, 2024, at the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s office located at Kenya Railways Headquarters within Nairobi County, being a person employed in the Public Service as the Director of Press Service in the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, allowed one Otieno Japolo Michaels to hold a meeting of investors representing himself as the Chairman, Government Delivery Unit, an act which was prejudicial to the said office.
They are further charged with attempting to obtain a sum of USD 45.000 equivalent to Sh5,800,000 from Nexor- Emea Engineering Consultancy company, by falsely pretending that they were in a position to secure tender for construction of two stadia in Kenya.

The suspects are out on a cash bail ranging from Sh400,000 to Sh200,000 each.