ODPP employee charged with abuse of office and stealing

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An employee of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has been charged with abuse of office and stealing over 7 Million.

William Ashael Osoro, Senior Principal Administrative officer is said to have abused his office by directing the use of a fuel card for the purchase of fuel, lubricants and pit stop services valued at Sh 7,902,250.28, an act which was prejudicial to the ODPP.

Osoro is alleged to have committed the offense between 1st September 2013 and 25th April 2018 in Nairobi.

In the second count the civil servant was charged with stealing by a person employed in the public service. The court heard that the accused stole fuel, lubricants and pit stop services valued at the above amount which got into his possession by virtue of his employment.

The accused denied the charges before Anti-corruption Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi.

The prosecution led by Joseph Riungu did not object his release on bail saying they did not have compelling reasons to do so. The court was however urged to consider the nature of the offenses the accused person faced.

The accused through his lawyer urged the court to release him on reasonable bail terms on grounds that he was not a flight risk.

The court was told that the accused person was elderly and had been a civil servant for many years and therefore urged to release him on personal bond.

However the prosecution responded saying the fact that the accused was a civil servant does not warrant him to be released on personal bond.

“We are all equal before the law. We are aware that the accused was an employee at the ODPP but that does not make him be release on personal bond. We treat corruption cases with the seriousness they deserve,” said Riungu.

The Magistrate granted the accused a bond of Sh 1.5 millionĀ or a cash bail of Sh 600,000.

He further barred him from accessing his previous office unless with permission from the DPP Noordin Haji and the Investigating officer.

The accused was further ordered to deposit his passport in court and not to contact any witnesses who are said to be mainly his colleagues.

The matter will be mentioned on 14th September to confirm whether the DCI will have supplied all witness statements and documents to the defense before the pretrial on September 24th.