Senior Principal Magistrate Martha Mutuku has given the prosecution a week to complete investigations against NOCK officials who have been linked with the mismanagement of Team Kenya at the Rio Olympics. She exempted Fridah Shiroya from reporting twice a week to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations citing she has been co-operative.
NOCK secretary General Francis Kinyili Paul, Vice Chairman Pius Ochieng and Stephen Arap Soi who is the Executive Officer appeared before Milimani Law Courts alongside Shiroya. The officials are facing counts related to the Rio 2016 fiasco, which relate to theft, neglect of duty and abuse of office.
“I have accepted the application from the prosecution for an extension of one week since the case is of public interest. I ask Soi, Paul and Ochieng to be reporting at the CID headquarters as earlier directed (twice weekly) specifically 9 am.
“The three will be brought back on Tuesday 27 for further directions. I also dispense the reporting order for twice a week for Shiroya,” the principal magistrate said.
The lead prosecutor mentioned that most of the respondents were not cooperating and with held information with Mr. Soi being named as the most uncooperative among them.
The respondents, Paul, Soi and Ochieng, through their lawyer Kimutai Bosek accused the prosecution of dragging the case for over three weeks and that they should either be charged or released. He also said that the prosecution had violated their right to have a speedy trial.
The case saw a bitter exchange of words between the two lawyers with each trying to defend his side.
The three respondents complained about being locked out from their NOCK(National Olympics Committee of Kenya) offices and their personal documents being ceased .
The team that just returned from Rio Olympics are required to prepare a detailed report on the visit but have failed to do so citing being barred from their office as they main reason.
The case that will be heard on 27th Tuesday is regarded as one with high public interest.