BY IRENE ONYANGO.
The spouse of former Murang’a governor Mwangi Wa Iria Jane Waigwe has been charged with conspiracy to defraud the county government of Sh351 million.
Waigwe appeared before anti-corruption chief magistrate Victor Wakhumile and denied several charges brought against her.
The charge sheet stated that she committed the offence on diverse dates between 21 October 2014 and 19th June 2017 in Murang’a county.
The court heard that he conspired to commit fraud in respect of unlawful contract for the provision of media buying services awarded to Top Image Media Consultants Limited by the Murang’a County Government amounting to Sh 351,097,491.15.
She was also charged with entered into an arrangement for the transfer of Sh7.5 million towards the purchase of Plot No, Nairobi /block 83/14/309 located at Umoja innercore plot A 238 Sector 2 on account of monies unlawfully paid by the County Government of Murang’a to Top Image Media Consultant Limited.
According to the prosecution, the purchase of the plot was to disguise the source of the money whilst jointly and severally ought reasonably to have known that the same formed part of proceeds of crime. It is alleged that she acquired the property between 1st June and 2nd September 2014.
Waigwe further denied laundering money including Sh 4.5Million, another Sh 3.7Million and Sh 600,000, allegedly sent to her account.
The court ordered her to deposit a bond of Sh 5Million or an alternative cash bail of Sh 1 million, to secure her release.
