Team Kenya Chef-de-Mission for Rio 2016 Olympics Stephen Arap Soi has filed an application in court requesting for the release of his passport to enable him to travel to Australia.
Soi says that he has been appointed as the Chef de Missions (CDM) for the Team Kenya that would be selected to participate in the Commonwealths Games scheduled to be held in Australia.
He says that he is supposed to attend the CDM meeting in Australia between 8th and 12th October as part of the preparations for the aforesaid games and therefore needs his passport to enable him to process his Visa and CDM Seminar.
In his sworn affidavit, Soy says that he received an email from Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDDOC) on 8th September, wherein he’s required to obtain a visa to facilitate the process of accreditation.
He says that he has never absconded court and will thus not be a threat if given his passport.
The CDM adds that he will not use the passport in any other way other than what it is stated in the application to move out of the jurisdiction of the court.
The matter has been certified as urgent and set for inter-party hearing on the 23rd of this month.
The court, however, said that he can always apply to the court to have it temporarily if need to travel arises.
Soi’s passport was deposited in court after he, together with NOCK chairman Pius Ochieng, Secretary General Francis Kanyiri Paul and Bernard Ekumbo denied five charges of stealing sh 26 million from the Government, National Olympics Committee-Kenya (Nock) and Athletics Kenya.
Soi who is represented by lawyer Joel Kimutai Bosek was also charged with stealing Sh 112,000 the property of the Ministry of Sports.
They denied the charges before former Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo in September 2016.
