Net closing in on main Anglo Leasing suspects

Businessman Deepak Chamanlal Kamani leaves Integrity Centre in December 2010 after being quizzed in connection with the Anglo Leasing scandal. FILE PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) spokesman Yassin Amaro on Sunday hinted that the suspects, some of them foreign business people, would be arrested this week and charged with defrauding Kenyans of billions of shillings in shady security-related projects.
• The commission, chaired by Mr Mumo Matemu, and Mr Tobiko’s office, have expedited the investigations into the Anglo Leasing scandal, which is set to haunt former ministers, former permanent secretaries and prominent business people, following a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta early last month.
• The meeting — which took place at Harambee House and was attended by Attorney-General Githu Muigai, Mr Matemu and Mr Tobiko — saw the President express disappointment with how the three agencies were fighting corruption.

By BERNARD NAMUNANE
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The anti-graft watchdog will proceed to arrest individuals suspected of taking part in the multi-billion-shilling Anglo Leasing scandal, without waiting for authority from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) spokesman Yassin Amaro on Sunday hinted that the suspects, some of them foreign business people, would be arrested this week and charged with defrauding Kenyans of billions of shillings in shady security-related projects.

He said since the agency had been working with a team from the DPP’s office in finalising the investigations, there may be no need for Director Keriako Tobiko’s approval.

He said the commission was determined to bring to an end the nightmare of the Anglo Leasing scandal, which was exposed by then Ntonyiri MP Maoka Maore 12 years ago.

“Unlike in other circumstances where we would normally wait for the DPP to read through the files and issue the authority to arrest, this time we may not do that because we have been working with his team. The files that have been sent to his office have been approved by his people,” he said on the phone.

INVESTIGATIONS

The commission, chaired by Mr Mumo Matemu, and Mr Tobiko’s office, have expedited the investigations into the Anglo Leasing scandal, which is set to haunt former ministers, former permanent secretaries and prominent business people, following a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta early last month.

The meeting — which took place at Harambee House and was attended by Attorney-General Githu Muigai, Mr Matemu and Mr Tobiko — saw the President express disappointment with how the three agencies were fighting corruption.

However, it emerged during the joint sessions that even though prominent politicians were being mentioned, documentary evidence linking them to the scam is scant, leaving the burden to accounting officers (former permanent secretaries) and business people.

The scandal involved 18 Anglo Leasing-type contracts relating to the broadband network for the Postal Corporation of Kenya, equipment for the Kenya Police, and the National Early Warning Security System for the Administration Police and the Meteorological Department.

The key individuals mentioned in connection with the scandal are business people Deepak Kamani, Anura Perera, Amin Juma, Merlyn Kettering and Ludmilla Katuschenko.

“We cannot give the exact date when they (suspects) will be arrested. However, Kenyans can be sure that the commission will arrest them at the earliest possible time and take them to court,” said Mr Amaro.