BY SAM ALFAN.
Kapsaret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi risks cancellation of Sh600,000 bond for failure to appear before the anti-corruption court in Nairobi court to face trial.
The politician is now required to personally appear on Monday before trial magistrate Felix Kombo after his lawyer’s explanation for his absence was rejected as “dubious.”
Kombo fell short of allowing a request by Prosecutor Joseph Riungu to issue an arrest warrant against the MP but lawyer Thomas Ruto and George Wajackoya sought the court’s indulgence on the basis that Sudi was engaged in vigorous last-minute campaigns to clinch nomination to defend his parliamentary seat.
Riungu had argued the MP was taking the court process for a ride, adding that he was facing serious economic crime charges.
“There are no sufficient grounds to waive the presence of the accused person in court as he has failed to appear in court for his trial as he should. The court should not be held to ransom because of political activities. The accused person is a law-maker and he should respect the law and set a good example,” Kombo said.
The magistrate said the Mp’s failure to appear in court “has frustrated the court process and therefore issue summons to appear in court on Monday, 24 April, 2017 to show cause why his bond terms should not be cancelled.”
Kombo warned Sudi that if he fails to appear in court as summoned then he will go ahead and issue an order for his arrest.
Sudi, through his lawyers, sought that the scheduled hearing be shelved until he completes his campaigns for his nomination in the primaries which are to take place in two days.
In the case the politician is charged with forging his academic certificates and submitting a false declaration to IEBC during the 2013 general election.
The MP’s lawyers Thomas Ruto and Prof George Wajackoyah told the trial court that the politician has equally moved to the high court seeking conservatory orders and a stay against the proceeding at the criminal court.
