Nine suspects, including National Treasury officials and business proprietors, have been released on bond ranging from Sh1 million to Sh20 million after pleading not guilty to 121 counts of alleged embezzlement and fraudulent disbursement of Sh1.57 billion, funds allegedly meant for the Rural Outreach of Financial Innovations and Technologies (PROFIT) programme.
The nine suspects, among them three National Treasury officials and six business proprietors or company directors, were charged with abuse of office, unlawfully acquiring public property, financial misconduct, uttering false documents, and acquiring proceeds of crime and money laundering.
Anti-Corruption Magistrate Rose Ndobi granted the first accused, John Ngure Kabutha, Programme Coordinator at the National Treasury, a bond of Sh10 million or an equivalent of Sh5 million cash bail.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Court announced that it will issue warrants of arrest for 11 other suspects who are on the run. The matter will be mentioned in September.
