Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi risks be issued warrants of arrest if he fails to appear in court on April 24th 2017 to show cause why his bond should not be cancelled.
The ruling was made after Sudi failed to appear in court for the hearing of his case where he is charged with forging academic certificates, giving false information to an IEBC officer and lying to the electoral agency as well as EACC.
His lawyer Thomas Ruto told the court to exempt his client from the proceedings as he was busy campaigning for the nominations to retain his sit.
Ruto added that the legislator had written to the court to exempt him from the hearing in a letter dated April 12 2017 which was presented as evidence.
While delivering the ruling anti-corruption magistrate Felix Kombo said that the ongoing Campaigns are not sufficient grounds to seek exception from court and adjournment of the case.
“I do not find any sufficient grounds for the actions of the accused,” ruled Magistrate Kombo.
Sudi’s lawyer further told the court that his client has also filed a constitutional petition at the high court which is scheduled for hearing on April 20th seeking to stop the proceedings at the criminal court.
However, the magistrate ruled that even if there is a petition at the high court, his court has not been served with any interim orders to halt the matter before him.
Prosecutor Joseph Riungu objected adjournment on grounds that the defense could have made the prayer earlier during the setting of the hearing date of the case.
The prosecution added that the application was in bad faith and the defense was not taking the court seriously as they had also adjourned the case the last time they were in court.
Riungu told the court that there was a witness in court who traveled all the way from Bungoma adding that the court should not be held at ransom because of political activities.
Sudi was charged with presenting forged certificates to the electoral commission while seeking nomination for the March 4, 2013 general election in October last year.
It was alleged that Sudi’s forged documents included his Diploma Certificate in Business Management allegedly issued by Kenya Institute of Management and KCSE document from Highway High school.
The MP denied all the charges before judge Lawrence Mugambi of Milimani Anti-corruption Court in Nairobi.
He was granted a bond of Sh600, 000 or cash bail of Sh300, 000. The matter will be mentioned on 24th April 2017.
