Sonko, two others charged afresh in Sh10m graft case
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and two others have been charged afresh in Sh10 million graft case against them.
This is after the trial magistrate Douglas Ogoti declined to allow an application by the defence lawyers led by Danstan Omari, Cecil Miller and George Kithi to differ the plea taking to await a High Court decision on whether the case will be stayed.
"There is no stay order from the High Court on this case. Consequently, no authority evidence or material to enable me interfere with the orders for them to take plea and l hereby order Sonko and ROG Security Limited and its director Antony Otieno Ombok, alias Jamal to plead to the charges," ruled Ogoti.
The three pleaded to the 13 fresh charges after the Director of Public Prosecutions was allowed by the court to include an abuse of office charge.
In the amended charge sheet, Sonko is charged alongside ROG Security Limited and Ombok alias Jamal of conspiring to commit an offence of corruption namely abuse of office by extorting Sh10 million as an inducement to facilitate payments to Web tribe limited by Nairobi county government in January 2019.
The embattled Nairobi governor is also charged with another count of conflict of interest where knowingly acquired an indirect private interest in a contract with a public body to wit a contract for supply, implementation and maintenance of electronic revenue collection and payments issued by Nairobi county to Web Tribe by receiving Sh 10 million from the firm through ROG Security Limited.
Sonko and his co-accused person are facing other charges of money laundering, abuse of office and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
ROG and its director Ombok wanted the plea taking be deferred temporarily to enable him to have his day before the High court.
