Former Kenya Pipeline Company Managing Director George Okungu addresses
journalists outside Integrity Centre on February 11, 2009. PHOTO | FILE
NATION MEDIA GROUP
By VINCENT AGOYA
In Summary
A judgement on a petition the embattled former
Kenya Pipeline boss George Okungu filed to block his prosecution over
alleged corruption was deferred on Thursday.
Representatives from the Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission and the Attorney General’s office which
wanted Mr Okungu prosecuted failed to show up in court forcing the
deferment.
Presiding judge George Odunga declined to deliver
the ruling in the “absence of other parties” even though Mr Okungu who
was in court and said he was “anxious to know his fate”.
“The judgment is ready but I do not know whether
the AG was served (to attend)... I cannot deliver it in the absence of
the parties concerned,” the judge said and ordered Mr Okungu to report
back to the court on Friday.
Triton scandal
The former Kenya Pipeline Managing Director is in
court over his alleged role in a scam in which the government lost Sh7.6
billion through Triton Oil Company.
The anti-corruption agency wanted him charged over
the oil scandal and alleged plunder of a KPC housing scheme, but he
moved to the High Court seeking a stay.
Mr Okungu and company secretary Mary Kiptui were
in 2009 held at the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (now EACC) offices
at Integrity Centre, Nairobi and grilled for hours.
The commission has been investigating the scandal
involving Triton Limited, whose proprietor, fugitive Yagnesh Devani is
said to have acquired fuel from KPC irregularly before going
underground.
“I do not know anything about the Triton issue and
my conscience is clear. Those who think I will be held responsible for
Triton are daydreaming,” Mr Okungu told the media at the height of
investigations.
Five counts including neglect of duty and
irregular disposal of residential houses belonging to KPC had been
prepared against the former MD before he got a reprieve from the High
Court suspending the proceedings until the outcome of the petition he
lodged was known.
According to the charge sheet, Mr Okungu is
mentioned as having bought a house belonging to KPC at Nairobi’s Gigiri
estate in October 2006.
Other charges state that he sold the company’s houses to staff members without seeking approval from the Energy ministry.
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