A federal bureau of investigations (FBI) officer has revealed in Nairobi court that one of the key suspects in the Anglo-leasing scam case has been converted into a state witness.
Mario Garcia Tariche told the court that Brandley Birkfield, who had been charged alongside Deepak Kamani , Rashmi Kamani and their father Chamanlal, is now a state witness in the Anglo-leasing case.
The court heard that Birkfield has been converted into a state witness “ to give damning evidence against some of the accused persons in the dock.”
Birkfield a director of Infotalent ltd which has been sued over the Anglo-leasing scandal is state witness.
Tariche who flew into the country from Washington on Monday to testify against the Kamani’s , former senior civil servants Joseph Magari , David Onyonka and Dave Mwangi said he witnessed Birkfield record a statement in June 2015 at Florida , Miami in the United States of America (USA).
Tariche said he accompanied Birkfield to the office of the Attorney where two officers from the EACC had flown to record his statement.
He said that Birkfield was questioned by the lead investigator Julius Muraya who was accompanied by John Kiilu.
Tariche who was led in his evidence in chief by two senior state prosecutors Victor Mule and Nicholas Mutuku and cross-examined by defence lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi.
“Did you know that Birkfield has a criminal record in USA and that he was convicted,” Abdullahi asked Tariche
“No am not aware,” the FBI officer answered
“Do you also know that by the time Birkfield was being converted to a state witness to testify against some of the accused herein an International warrant of arrest had been issued against him,” Abdullahi asked the witness.
The witness said he was not aware of the warrant and that Interpol were looking for him.
He further said that he was not aware Birkfield was charged before the Kenyan Courts.
The accused persons have been charged with a conspiracy to defraud the government Euros 59,688, 250 through a suppliers financing agreement for computerization of security, law and order system.
Infotalent is a foreign company which entered into a contract with the government of Kenya and is alleged to have been paid Euros 59.6 million in relation to police E-cops security contract in 2003 and 2004 financial year.
The case was adjourned to November 20, 2017.
