National Olympics Council of Kenya (N.O.C.K) Vice Chairman Bernard Ekumbo at Milimani Law Court on Friday November 25.2016.
BY SAM ALFAN.
IT has now emerged that the Vice Chairman of the National Olympics Council of Kenya (N.O.C.K) Bernard Ekumbo is being investigated over allegations of sexually molesting minors at the Kenya Swimming Federation.
The information was revealed by an officer from the Special Crimes Unit Juliet Kimwei who was opposing the release on bail of Ekumbo after he denied charges of conspiring to steal USD 10,500 from the Ministry of sports, Art and Culture.
Kimwei told Senior Resident Magistrate Joyce Gandani that DCI is currently investigating sexual molestation by officials of the federation including the accused against the said minors.
The officer said based on the position the accused occupies in the federation, he has the capacity to interfere with investigations.
“The investigations and the instant prosecution being conducted involve the reputation of sports, management of sports in the Country and the reputation of the Country as a sporting giant,” he said
According to the charge sheet it is alleged that on the 25 of July 2016 at KCB University way jointly with others not before court Ekumbo conspired to steal USD 10,500 property of the ministry of sports, Art and Culture.
He faced another count of stealing sports Uniform at Plaza 200 on Mombasa Road. Ekumbo however offered to refund $10,500 (Sh1,060,500) Rio loot. He said the cash was deposited into his bank account without his knowledge as he led Team Kenya in Rio, Brazil.
According to the affidavit by Kimwei, the Director of Criminal Investigations (D.C.I) received complaints in regard to how the Kenyan Team to the Rio De Janiero Olympics 2016 was managed before, during and after the 2016 Olympics Games and complaints in regard to sexual molestation of minors at the Kenya Swimming Federation.
She said pursuant to DCI receiving the said complaints, the DCI initiated immediate investigations and directed that Special Crime Unit does conduct criminal investigations with view of establishing if there was any criminal culpability on the part of the respondents and other Kenyan Team officials.
“A team of investigators conducted a search at the premises of the accused residence at Duplex Apartments Door No. 1 located in Westland’s and recovered a number of items which included official games Kit for the Kenyan team,” reads her affidavit.
She said the DCI is currently investigating the affairs of the Kenya Swimming Federation which include several fraudulent financial transactions that have taken place in the federation and the release of Ekumbo on bail will interfere with the ongoing investigations
“Based on the position the accused occupies in the federation, he has the capacity to interfere with investigations. In view of the serious compelling reasons, it is in the interest of justice that the court does not grant bail to the accused,” she said.
“The investigations and the instant prosecution being conducted involve the reputation of sports, management of sports in the Country and the reputation of the Country as a sporting giant,” she added.
Kimwei said that the evidence gathered so far is convincing and sufficient to secure a conviction and hence the temptation of the accused to abscond if released on bail.
The State led by Prosecutor Duncan Ondimu told the magistrate that they would inform the Asset Recovery Agency about Ekumbo’s offer. Accused will however remain in police custody till Monday next week when the court will make its ruling on bail.
