Former National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) officials are complaining delay of the case which has been pending in court for over five years.
The officials among them Stephen Soi appeared before magistrate Francis Andayi where the case was expected to be heard.
The prosecution requested for adjournment saying that the witness Friday Shiroya was not present in court because she was unwell.
The defense through their lawyers Kimutai Bosek, Edward Rombo and Julius Matheka said their clients are elderly and have been in and out of courts for 5 years now.
They said that the prosecution would have produced medical documents in court.
“The prosecution is delaying the hearing of this case which has been pending in court since 2016,” added Bosek.
In the case,Soi, Team Kenya chief of mission, denied stealing more than Sh25 million.
Soi was accused of failing to report to police officers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport that he was carrying Sh23 million to Rio.
He faced an alternative count of stealing Sh23 million at Kencom House in Nairobi. The court heard that the money belonged to the Sports ministry. The prosecution said Soi stole a further $3000 (Sh303,909 ) on July 20 at Kencom House.
He was also accused of stealing $1,000 (Sh101,303 ) and a further $18,000 (ShI.8 million), which had been entrusted to him by Athletics Kenya to pay for athletes accommodation.
Shiroya was also an accussed but has since been turned to state witness.The case started on 29th August 2016 when the suspects were arrested upon return from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
They were accused of stealing uniforms that were collected from Nock stores.
The last time Shiroya was in the dock was on January 15,2019 and that is when she was stood down because the defense said they had not been supplied with witness documents.
In court, the prosecution through the investigation officer committed to avail the documents during the next hearing dates.
They said that they will supply the evidence documents required and also avail witness Shiroya who was supposed to testify in the case.
Magistrate Andayi directed the prosecution to do so to avoid many adjournments in this case
The matter will be mentioned in August to confirm whether the prosecution have complied with the orders.
The officials were arrested on their return from Rio at the end of August over their roles in the alleged mismanagement of the Kenyan team’s preparations for the Games.
The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) was following public pressure and a directive from President Uhuru Kenyatta for the situation to be investigated
