The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested an education officer who has been on the run after his involvement in the theft of Ksh296 million bursary funds.
Simon Kachapin Kodomuk has been arrested by EACC officers in Eldoret after evading authorities for weeks.
In a statement, the commission detailed that the suspect, a former Chief Officer for Education in West Pokot, was processed for arraignment.
“Kodomuk, who has been on the run to evade arrest, served as Chief Officer for Education when the fraudulent scheme to embezzle Kes296 million meant for needy students’ bursary was hatched and executed.
“The suspect is currently being processed by EACC North Rift Regional Office for arraignment before the Eldoret Anti-Corruption Court at 2:00 pm,” the statement read in part.
Also Read: Multimillionaire Govt Cleaner Arrested After Raid in Home
Other Education Officers Roped in the Scam
On the other hand, three other suspects Mary Ngoriakes, the former Chief Officer of Education, Mathew Arusio, the former County Director of Bursary, and former Assistant County Director of Bursary Francis Pkemoi Tikol were earlier arrested.
Investigations revealed that the senior education officials embezzled Ksh296 million, diverting funds meant to support needy students.
Moreover, EACC determined that they used irregular cash withdrawals and fake meeting minutes to facilitate the theft, with officials assuming roles within a County Bursary, Education Development, and Infrastructure Committee (CBC) that had never been formally established.
The EACC submitted its findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges including conspiracy to commit corruption, abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property, and the creation of false documents.
Other charges against them are false accounting by a public officer and issuing a bad cheque.
However, the three other suspects denied the charges.
“A plea of not guilty has been entered for the three accused persons for all the charges. The court has issued summons to the first accused person Simon Kodomuk who is a former Chief Officer for Education to appear before this court in a week for purposes of plea taking,” Chief Magistrate Dennis Mikoyan, said.
They allegedly committed the offenses between the 2017/2018 and 2021/2022 financial year.
Also Read: Four Kericho County Officials Arrested By EACC
Millionaire Govt Cleaner Arrested
Earlier on September 29, EACC arrested a cleaner, John Coveti Lumula, working for the Kakamega County government.
Lumula, the head of the cleaning service, had amassed an unexplained amount of wealth which did not reflect the amount of salary he was receiving.
Additionally, EACC explained that Lumula is worth over Ksh615 million and had documentation and cash in his house that proved he owned several other investments.
He owned a top private school, West Bridge Elite School in Eregi, worth over Ksh2 million, an institution managed and run by his wife.
In addition, he owns other businesses including Lexas Restaurant, Yolo Launch and Grill restaurant, and the Caravan Palace Hotel.
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