Jumwa released on Sh5m bond as she denies graft claims
Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa was yesterday charged with graft at a Mombasa court.
The vocal legislator, however, denied the charges before Mombasa Chief Magistrate’s Court and was released on a Sh5 million bond.
Jumwa is accused of embezzling funds meant for the proposed construction of a sub-county Education office Block.
She pleaded not guilty to six charges she is facing including, the offence of corruption, money laundering, concealing of property and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
Jumwa alongside six others, who included CDF Malindi Constituency fund account manager Wachu Omar, members of Evaluation Committee Bernad Riba, Kennedy Otieno, Sophia Said and Margaret Kalume, Robert Katana and Multiservice Contractors Ltd were charged that between May 14 and October 12, 2018, jointly conspired to commit an offence of corruption to defraud Sh19 million.
Jumwa and Katana were also charged with money laundering. The charge read that together, and with intent to unlawfully dispose of monies received from the national government CDF, Malindi Constituency, they jointly engaged in a transaction to conceal Sh900,000 whilst having reasons to believe that the said monies were proceeds of crime.
Personal bond
Accused counsels, Jared Magolo, Cliff Ombeta and Dunstan Omari, asked the court to grant the MP a personal bond as she is well-known and the fact that she presented herself to the police even before she was served with the court summons.
In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Edna Nyaloti said she had considered evidence by defence and Judiciary’s bail and bond policy.
“The magistrate said the court cannot grant the accused a free bond hence she will be released on bond term.
Bond for the co-accused persons too has been reviewed, consequently, they can be released on a Sh 2 million bond or cash bail of Sh500,000,” ruled Nyaloti. Pre-trial will be on September 17.
