A Nakuru court has set four consecutive days to hear the 1.1 billion Lice Finnish Education Program case faced by Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago.
Mandago was indicted along with Meshack Rono, Uasin Gishu, deputy director of the County Education Fund, and county employee Joshua Lelei.
Senior Judge Peter Ndege ruled that Mandago’s trial will begin from July 1 to July 4.
Mr Ndege took into account that the prosecution had assembled 202 witnesses to testify against the senator and his co-accused.
“The court will require at least four days to ensure hearing from as many witnesses as possible before the trial begins,” Ndege said.
Mr Ndege set the date after Mr Mandago’s lawyer, Stephen Kibungei, confirmed in court that his team was ready to proceed with the trial.
On January 15, Kibungei asked the court to take a month to review all the documents submitted, saying they were too large and would take a month to prepare.
“We have read all the documents provided and are ready for trial,” Kibungei said.
documentary evidence
State prosecutor Angeline Chinga said prosecutors had provided Mandago with all documents, including 20 pieces of documentary evidence and exhibits, to be used in the trial.
Chinga said the prosecution provided the defense with the indictment, the forensic document examiner’s report and evidence notes.
Other documents listed include deposit slips and acceptance letters from all 180 students accused in the case.
Mandago and his co-defendants deny 10 charges of conspiracy to commit theft, theft, abuse of office and forgery.
According to the indictment, between March 1, 2021 and September 12, 2022, the three conspired to steal Sh1.1 billion from KCB Bank in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu.
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Mandago is said to have abused his authority between March 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022 by signing memorandums of understanding with universities in Finland and Canada on behalf of the government without the approval of the county council. It is being said.
“The defendant falsely testified that the county offered full scholarships to students to Finland and Canada,” the indictment states.
Rono and Lelei are accused of stealing 56.5 million lice from KCB Eldoret branch between June 2021 and September 12, 2022.