Patrick Odhiambo Owino who appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Charity Oluoch, denied seven counts of conspiring to steal from NYS.
BY SAM ALFAN.
The NYS money ring syndicate is expanding with yet another businessman being charged over conspiracy to steal Sh24 million from the youth kitty.
Patrick Odhiambo Owino who appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Charity Oluoch, denied seven counts of conspiring to steal from NYS.
Owino was released on a Sh1 million cash bail with an alternative of Sh 5 million bond with a surety of similar amount.
Prosecutor Eddie Kadebe told the court that Owino on various dates between June 27, 2015 and August 7, 2015 at NYS Engineering Institute jointly with others not before court, conspired to steal Sh24,145,000.
The prosecutor said they were not opposed to Owino being released on bail but urged the court to consider the amount of money involved in the alleged scheme.
“As much as the accused enjoys presumption of innocence until proven guilty, this court should not turn a blind eye on colossal sums of money stolen generally and those specifically reflected in the charge sheet,” Kadebe said.
Owino’s lawyer Mr Samuel Aduda said that the court should not be swayed by the huge sums alleged to have been stolen.
The accused is charged separately from the rest of the cases that are already pending in court,” Aduda said
Aduda said bond is a constitutional right and Owino is entitled to be released on bond pending hearing and determination of his case.
He further asked to be supplied with all documentary evidence that the prosecution seeks to rely on during his client’s trial.
Proceedings resume later.
