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Former National Land Commission chairperson Muhammad Swazuri wept uncontrollably when a Nairobi court sent him back behind bars to wait for another seven days for the ruling of sh. 12 million cash bail.
Swazuri
He had spent days in police cells, seeking a review of his release terms after being charged with Sh109 million frauds.
In the application, Prof Swazuri said the Sh12 million cash bail or Sh30 million bond imposed by Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi was unjust, unreasonably high and in contravention of Article 49 of the Constitution.
The magistrate also noted that the charges against Prof Swazuri and the others concerned serious economic crimes.
Prof Swazuri and others denied more than 20 counts including corruption, abuse of office, financial misconduct, fraudulent acquisition of public funds and money laundering.
The suspects include the NLC staff, business owners as well as spouses and relatives of the commission’s top managers.
The charge sheet states that they conspired to commit corruption through fraudulent payment of Sh109 million for the alleged compulsory acquisition of land from Tornado Carriers on behalf of Kenya National Highways Authority.
He was arrested alongside former commissioner Emma Njogu, ex-NLC chief executive Tom Aziz Chavangi, Valuation and Taxation Director Salome Munubi, Finance and Administration Director Francis Mugo and lawyer Catherine Wanjiru Chege all who were given similar sh. 12 million cash bail.
However businessman Samuel Rugongo was granted freedom on Sh6 million cash bail or Sh15 million bond while Sostemah Ogero Taracha was ordered to deposit a cash bail of Sh3 million.
Ms Lilian Savai Kaverenge, Ms Evahmary Wachera and Michael Oloo were released on cash bails of Sh1.5 million each.
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