Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi has directed that the case in which Nairobi County official Dennis Paul Manoti is charged with corruptly soliciting Sh6.5million bribe from the owner of retail chain Taj Mall be heard on July 24.
The case had been fixed for hearing on April 18th but defense lawyer Evans Ondieki applied for adjournment on grounds that they had filed an application at the High Court seeking to terminate the criminal case.
Ondieki further told the court that the prosecution had no furnished him with all statements by prospective witnesses to assist him prepare for the hearing.
Ondieki requested to have the trial postponed until after the August 8 General Elections on grounds that both him and the complainant in the matter are aspirants in the general elections and therefore will need time to take part in the campaigns.
however, the magistrate overruled the application and directed that the case should be heard and concluded expeditiously.
Manoti, who is a deputy accountant at Nairobi County Government Rates Department denied three counts of corruptly soliciting Sh 6.5million bribe from Taj Mall owner, Ramesh Chandra Govin. He is out on Sh250,000 cash bail.
the accused is alleged to have corruptly solicited Sh 6 million bribe from Govin so as to facilitate land transfer changes on LR number 20273 from Sigma Ltd to Taj Mall Ltd. He is also accused demanding another Sh 500,000 so as to facilitate transfer changes on the same property.
Manoti is further accused of corruptly receiving Sh 100,000 from another complainant, Peter Kebaso, so as to transfer changes on the same property.