FORMER MIGORI GOVERNOR OKOTH OBADO, HIS 4 SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN THE DOCK OVER ALLEGED THEFT OF PUBLIC FUNDS; EACC TO GIVE TESTIMONY – TODAY, MONDAY, FROM 9:00 AM
Former Migori Governor Zachary Okoth Obado, his 4 children Dan Achola Okoth, Scarlet Susan Okoth, Everlyn Zachary Okoth and Jerry Zachary Okoth, together with 11 other accused persons will, today, Monday, 8th July 2024, from 9:00 am, be in the dock before Milimani Anti-Corruption Court in relation to the criminal charges they are facing for alleged theft of public funds and conflict of interest in Migori County Government.
In today’s hearing before Chief Magistrate Victor Wakumile, the first Prosecution Witness (PW1), EACC Investigating Officer, will narrate to the Court how the fraudulent scheme by the former Governor and 11 other accused persons, including his 4 children and county officials, was hatched and executed.
59 witnesses have been lined up to testify before the court in a bid to prove the case against the Governor and co-accused persons.
EACC undertook investigations in this case after receiving allegations that Migori County Government had made suspicious payments to multiple companies, totalling Kes.1.98 billion. However, after investigations, most payments were found to have been lawfully made in respect to executed contracts whose works were confirmed in a verification exercise while payments amounting to Kes.235 million remained unexplained thus deemed to have been fraudulently acquired from the County Government.
The unexplained amount, which the Commission found to be proceeds of corruption, including kickbacks directly sent by some companies to foreign universities as school fees for Obado’s children as well as high-end properties purchased for the family by the said contractors, have since been recovered through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), following a civil recovery suit filed at the High Court.
The Commission will dispose of the seized properties by public auction in accordance with the court orders issued by Justice Esther Maina.
If the Trial Court finds the accused persons guilty in the ongoing criminal case, they will be convicted and sentenced in accordance with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003, which provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years for each offence and a mandatory fine equal to two times the amount of any public funds lost or benefit acquired by the accused person.
Additionally, Section 64 of the Act bans convicted persons from appointment or election to any public office for a period of period10 years.
