Blogger Nyakundi, co-accused released on Sh 300,000 bail in Victoria Bank extortion case

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Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi and his co accused have been released on a cash bail of Sh 300,000 after being charged with extortion in the Victoria Bank scandal.

Nyakundi and Emmanuel Nyamweya Ongera are charged with e touring Sh 1 million from Victoria Commercial Bank CEO as down payment of an earlier demanded amount of Sh 17.5 million as pre-condition for pulling down several libellous articles they posted in their blog on diverse dates between 10th September 2019 and 15th January 2020.

The two are alleged to have committed the offence on 20th January at Westgate Mall in Nairobi jointly with others not before court with intent to gain.

They denied the charge before Senior Principal Magistrate Kenneth Cheruiyot.

The bank’s lawyer had objected the release of the accused on bail on grounds that he is at flight risk.

The court heard that Nyakundi is a “difficult person” to find and adding that they have filed a contempt of court application against him in a civil matter.

However defense lawyers Cliff Ombeta, Dunstan Omari and Jaden Ochiel objected the application saying that nothing has been produced before court to show that Nyakundi is in contempt.

They asked the court to grant them free bond since they are just bloggers and cant afford a hefty bail adding that they are not at flight risk and will attend court.

In his ruling, the Magistrate said that disobedience of court orders amount to contempt, however, the same was not proved in this case.

The magistrate therefore found no compelling reasons to deny them bail.