Africa-Press – Kenya. The Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has tabled new evidence discovered from Migori Governor Okoth Obado’s home that it intends to use in the Ksh73.4 million corruption case.
During the hearing of the case on Tuesday, October 12, State Counsel Eva Kanyuira, stated that they found 500 new documentary pieces of evidence which will be vital for the case.
Kanyuira told the court that they had obtained evidence that would be referenced by a witness and that they wanted to issue the same documents to the defence.
“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,” she submitted.
The ODPP noted it had obtained documents from Obado’s home in Uriri, Migori. Other documents were found at the County Government Headquarters including an evaluation committee report for a meeting that was held on June 8 to 14 of 2014.
Further, the State obtained an offer for a sale agreement for Loresho Ridge townhouse dated August 12, 2014.
In addition, the top prosecutor obtained 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.
The state counsel asked the magistrate to grant the ODPP more time to have the defence team go through the new evidence before the trial starts
“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,” Kanyuira stated.
However, the defence led by lawyer George Kithi opposed the request by the prosecutor noting that the case needs to proceed without them being given an opportunity to go through the new evidence.
Obado and his four children are charged with the alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to Ksh73.4 million. He was charged on August 27, 2020, with 22 counts of contravening various sections of the Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
The Migori Governor was charged alongside his four children; Susan Scarlet, Jerry Zachary, Evelyn Adhiambo, Dan Achola Okoth and businessman Jared Kwaga, among others.
