The former National Lands Commission Chairperson Professor Mohammed Swazuri and the co-accused are ready to return the ksh. 109.7 Million in the NLC land scam.
The Five accused person have written to the Office of the Director of Criminal Investigation requesting for a plea bargain.
Swazuri and the co-accused stated they are willing to refund monies paid to them since they didn’t know they were proceeds of crime and requested charges against them be dropped.
5 accused persons in Sh109.7M NLC land scam write to DPP requesting for plea negotiations, saying they are willing to refund monies paid to them since they didn't know they were proceeds of crime & request charges against them be dropped. #AntiCorruption_ODPP pic.twitter.com/JHaF4EvMvB
— ODPP_KE (@ODPP_KE) May 22, 2019
Their arrests were linked to fraudulent compensation for land acquired by the commission for the construction of the Mombasa Southern Bypass and Kipevu New Highway Container Terminal link road in 2013.
The land belonging to Tornado Carriers Limited was initially valued at Sh34,501,110 in 2015 but the commission ended up paying Sh109,769,363 after Dr Swazuri ordered a second valuation.
NLC was compulsorily acquiring the piece of land on behalf of the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA).
Among those who were listed for prosecution were Dr Swazuri, former NLC Commissioner Emma Njogu, NLC staff Joash Oindo (Deputy Director, Valuation & Taxation), Dr. Salome Munubi (Director, Valuation & Taxation), Francis Mugo (Director Finance) and Catherine Wanjiru Chege, an advocate at C.W Chege & Co. Advocates.
In the list are also spouses and relatives of NLC staff, directors of Tornado Carriers Ltd and Lorgis Logistics Ltd as well as two companies.