A witness in anti graft case against Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, has denied having recorded statement with Ethics and Anti corruption commission.
Former acting sport and culture CEC Grace Matinde Mchuma, told trial magistrate Douglas Ogoti, that officer from EACC only questioned her about the procurement of the solid Waste management and asked her to sign what he had recorded.
The witness who is blind could not record the statement nor did she goes through what the officer had recorded
She recalled having attended the 44th executive committee meeting on 7 May 2014 where Solid Waste Management was discussed and adopted by the Cabinet.
“Actually I was asked questions and the person who was asking the questions is the one who recorded statement then signed” said the Grace.
While being cross examined by the defence lawyer James Orengo and Dunstan Omari, she said that the County Government indeed entered and signed Memorandum of Understanding with. Madam R. enterprises, the company that was to offer services.
She further said the decision to award the tender was unanimous decision of the Busia county Government CEC.
Governor Ojaamong and five others members of County executives have been charged with conspiracy to defraud the county of Sh 8 million by , engaging in projects without proper procurement process.
The embattled governor has been indicted alongside Finance Executive Bernard Yaite, Chief Finance Officer Leonard Obimbira, head of treasury accounting Samuel Ombui, Allan Omachari and Edna Odhiambo.
The charges against them states that on diverse dates between March 15 and September 25,2014 all the accused persons conspired to defraud the Busia county government of Sh 8 million by entering into an agreement for a feasibility study on solid waste management.
Prosecution alleges that they engaged a company known as Madam R Enterprise to conduct a feasibility study on waste management, yet it had not been budgeted for.
Ojaamong alone is charged that on or about April 7, 2014 in Berlin Germany, being the governor of Busia county intentionally engaged in a project namely a feasibility study on integrated solid waste management project by entering into a Memorandum of understanding with Madam enterprises Ltd without a prior planning.
Last week prosecution suffered a setback, after a witness was stood down following denial that he did not record statement to indict the governor.
Mr Nicodemus Mulako who is Busia County Secretary, told trial magistrate Douglas Ogoti that the statements being shown by the prosecution was not recorded by him.
The statement dated 7 May 2014 was not recorded by the witness, who said that by then he had joined the County government.
The defence team led by James Orengo and Dawson Omari, told the court that the witness cannot by law be allowed to testify using unsigned statement and was not recorded by him.
They said that the witness has said he had not joined the County when the alleged statement was recorded.
