Drama as Suspect in Sh4.2 Billion Graft Case Appears in Court 'Half-Naked'

There was drama during a virtual court session on Monday after a graft suspect showed up half-naked.

Fredrick Onyango Chere, who is charged in the Sh4.2 billion Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) scandal, appeared for the court hearing in a vest.

Lawyer Tom Ojienda asked the magistrate to compel the suspect to dress appropriately in line with the court’s ethics.

The attorney argued that the court ethics are clear on the dressing code of accused persons and counsels appearing in court.

Others present during the virtual session were State counsel James Kihara and lawyer Katwa Kigen.

Nairobi Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti suspended the session and directed the accused to log off and wear appropriate clothing before the pre-trial hearing continues.

Onyango was charged with graft-related offenses in 2019 after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji ordered his arrest over a Sh4.1 billion irregular tender for the construction of a multi-purpose mall.

Investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) revealed that the cost of building the mall was inflated from Sh2.5 billion toSh4.1 billion.

Onyango was charged alongside 27 other officers from the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) and two private companies accused of being involved in inflating the contract.

Others charged in the case include former Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Onyango Oloo, former Lake Basin Development Authority Managing Director Peter Anguko Abuok, and Bobasi MP Innocent Obiri Momanyi