Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji will appeal the decision by Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti to acquit former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko in the KSh. 20 million graft case.
Moreover, the announcement came hours after Sonko was acquitted of 13 charges relating to corruption that led to the loss of Ksh.20 million in a procurement scandal at City Hall.
In the ruling which was delivered by Magistrate Ogoti at the Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday, December 21, Sonko and his co-accused person businessman Antony Ombok were freed for lack of evidence.
The magistrate said that the charges are defective.
The ODPP will appeal against the ruling of Hon.Ogoti delivered today acquitting all accused persons in the case of the former governor of Nairobi and others. The court acquitted on the basis that the charge sheet was defective, and not on the merits and substance of the case.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/rhKHIe5mv4— Office of The Director Of Public Prosecutions (@ODPP_KE) December 21, 2022
Furthermore, magistrate Ogoti noted that no money was stolen from Nairobi County as no evidence was presented in court in regard to the loss of funds.
Nonetheless, DPP Haji emphasized that his office has enough evidence to prove the embezzlement of public funds.
Also Read: Mike Sonko Acquitted of Corruption Charges
Sonko was first arraigned in December 2019 following a dramatic arrest in Voi where he was handcuffed and airlifted to Nairobi.
The charges against the former Nairobi governor and Mr. Ombok included money laundering, conflict of interest, abuse of office, acquisition of public funds and conspiracy to commit an economic crime.
The accused allegedly embezzled funds through awarding contracts to allies who transferred the money back to his accounts on a later date.