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KENYA: CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR FACES CHARGES OF ABUSE OF OFFICE March 24, 2006
Apunyu Bonny
<|andrew_mullei.jpg|Dr. Andrew Mullei|left|>(SomaliNet) Kenya’s Central Bank Governor, Dr. Andrew Mullei was yesterday, Thursday charged with four counts of abuse of office being the first time in Kenya's history that a serving Central Bank Governor has been charged in court. The Standard reported.
Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate, Mrs. M W Wachira, Dr. Mullei, denied the charges. The offences were allegedly committed between July and August 2004.
According to reports, Mullei was accused of appointing his son, Silla Mullei, as one of the consultants for CBK without following the laid down procurement procedures. As a result, the charge states, his son was paid Sh2, 619, 154.85 as consultancy fees.
Dr. Mullei faces three other charges of improperly appointing top economist Prof T C I Ryan, Forensic Auditor, Melville Smith and Titus Mwirigi as CBK consultants. As a result, CBK paid them a total Sh 6,450,856. Together with the amount allegedly paid to the son, the figure amounts to Sh 9,070,010.
Mean while, his lawyer, Mr Mutula Kilonzo (Snr), asked the court to release his client on bond. “The charges would not force a man of his caliber to run away. He will present himself for trial. He has a family and an extremely enviable reputation. I request the court to give him bond on his own personal cognizance." Mr Mutula Kilonzo said.
Mutula also said that his client was willing to deposit his passport with the court. “There is no allegation he enjoyed any personal benefit or money." Mutula said.
Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Keriako Tobiko, who appeared for the State, said the prosecution had no objection to his release on bond. Mullei was released a Sh 5 million bond with surety of the same amount. The case will be mentioned on April 4 and trial begins on June 8.