A politician and a lawyer have been charged with stealing Sh62 million from an Israeli national, pretending to be in a position to help him secure a tender at the Ministry of Defence.
Ford Kenya politician Emmanuel Charles Osore and lawyer Michael Otieno Owano appeared before Milimani Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe and denied the charges.
The duo are accused of conspiracy to steal USD 400,000, equivalent to Sh62 million, an offence they allegedly committed on diverse dates between 25th August 2022 and January 22 this year at an unknown place.
The charge sheet stated that they stole millions from Cohen Oshry by falsely pretending they were in a position to secure him a tender for the supply and installation of a GSM offensive system to the Ministry of Defence.
They allegedly claimed that the tender was under request for proposals (RFP) reference number MOD/SDM/CS/01/2023-2024, which was false.
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The prosecution told the court that on the 13th day of March 2023 at an unknown place and time, Osore, jointly with others not before the court, with intent to defraud ISKY Holding Limited of USD 400,000, equivalent to about Sh62 million, made a false cybersecurity project commitment letter.
Lawyer Michael Otieno Owano
The charge stated that he purported that the letter was a genuine and valid document issued by the Ministry of Defence.
Osore is further charged with making a false Service Level Agreement contract number MOD00322023 in respect of the supply, delivery, installation, testing, and commissioning of the GSM cyber offence system.
It is alleged that he committed the offence on October 17 last year at an unknown place and time, jointly with others not before the court, with the intent to defraud ISKY Holding Limited.
Osore was released on a bond of Sh5 million or an alternative cash bail of Sh500,000.
Lawyer Owano, who is facing one count, was released on a bond of Sh3 million or posting alternative cash bail of Sh400,000.
The matter will be mentioned at the end of this month for further directions, and the prosecution has listed three people as witnesses in the trial
