Embattled Migori Governor Okoth Obado, his four children and eleven other people might face another rough time as the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) is set to table new evidence in the Sh 73.4 million corruption case.
When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday before trial magistrate Lawrence Mugambi, the DPP through Senior State Counsel Eva Kanyuira told the court that this office has new evidence in the case against Obado and his co-accused parties.
The senior counsel told the magistrate that in the course of the pre-trial proceedings with the investigating officer, they discovered 500 new pieces of information which will be vital in the case.
She stated that the state would like to amend the charges against all the accused persons following the fresh evidence that has emerged.
Kanyuira asked the court to allow the prosecution to amend and substitute the charge sheet “in the interest of justice.”
“It will not cause any prejudice or injustice to the accused persons as they shall be accorded sufficient opportunity and time to test and challenge the prosecution case as presented,” the DPP said.
The State also sought more time to have the defense team go through the new evidence before the trial started.
The magistrate hesitantly allowed the defense lawyers and accused persons a day to go through the new evidence until Thursday morning when the case is expected to begin.
Among the new evidence introduced in the case are documents recovered from Obado’s home in Uriri in Migori, Migori county government, evaluation committee report for meeting NoECR/263/2015-2016 dated June 8 to 14 of 2014, offer for sale agreement for Loresho Ridge townhouse dated August 12, 2014 and bank account statements from KCB, Co-operative banks, Central Bank of Kenya and Bank of Scotland.
Other documents include payment vouchers for several companies including M/S Deltrack ICT Services, Dolphus Softwares, Peuslus Supplies, Kajulu Business Solutions Associates, Atinus Services and Victorious Investments.
The defense led by George Kithi had declined the request by the State to have the case proceed without them being given an opportunity to go through the new evidence.
Only Obado was present during Tuesday hearing while the rest of the co-accused attended virtually.