The Director of Criminal Investigations has moved Milimani Law courts seeking 14 days custodial order to detain Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi’s press secretary Salim Swaleh and five other residents in a case of alleged extortion.
In a miscellaneous application filed by Inspector Nicholas Njoroge, he states that the respondents were arrested on June 23, in the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s office on suspicion of having committed various offences.
The Investigating Officer affirms that he is Investigating several offences namely conspiracy to commit a felony, attempt to obtain money by false pretences, personating a person employed in the public service and abuse of office.
The five include Otieno Japolo Michael, Terry Kemunto Sese, Daniel Omondi Gogo, John Musundi Wabomba and James William Mokoha
In his application, the officer states that the complainants are foreigners from Dubai and South Africa respectively that they were allegedly lured to the country to secure a tender to construct two stadia for the upcoming AFCON 2027 games.
“The respondents were arrested in Swaleh’s office who is the Director of Press service,” the officer claims in his application.
“The complainants were made to believe that after the meeting at the Prime CS office, they would meet other government officials from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, two senators from the budget committee of parliament and sports committee members to secure the tender of building the stadia.”
The officer in his application claimed that upon entering the said office, Swaleh allegedly paved the way allowing the other suspects to hold a meeting with the foreigners where Japolo allegedly personated himself as the chairman of the government delivery unit domiciled at the office of the Prime CS and would assist the foreigners in speeding up the tendering process.
In his application, the officer stated that the complainants were to part with USD 45,000 equivalent to Sh5,850,000 as a registration fee before securing the tender.
The police in his application claimed the respondents breached security protocol by entering the office of the Prime CS without an appointment and thus needed to investigate who aided their entry and other possible missions.