The state has lined up 30 witnesses to testify against four people accused of stealing Sh52 million from KCB, Thika branch, two years ago.
Halford Munene, his brother Charles Mwangi, Julius Ndung’u and Shem Karani have denied stealing the money after digging an underground tunnel between November 18 and 20, 2017.
The cash comprised 95 Australian dollars, 185 Euros, 1,630 sterling pounds, 271,000 Tanzanian shillings, 947,000 Ugandan shillings, five Canadian dollars and 40 South African rand.
The state has amended the charges to include handling stolen property. Their cases did not proceed yesterday after the defence applied for adjournment, saying the prosecution had not provided them with all the documents to be used in the case.
The first three suspects were charged with being in possession of 200 IDs, 200 Orange sim cards, 1,239 MTN sim cards, seven CPUs and 305 telecommunications authority cards. The items are suspected to have been stolen.
The fourth accused is charged with being in possession of three identity cards, also suspected to have been stolen. The cards were in his possession in Mtwapa, Kilifi county, where he was arrested.
They all denied the charges before the then Thika chief magistrate Theresa Murigi, who had slapped them with Sh4 million bond. The bonds were revised to Sh2 million.
Munene and Mwangi are graduates of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Agricultural Engineering, respectively. They studied at the University of Nairobi and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
When the case came up for hearing before Thika chief magistrate J M Mang’ea yesterday, the prosecution led by state counsel Ms Maundu, said 30 witnesses are ready to testify in the case.
However, the hearing didn’t proceed as the defence applied for adjournment of the case, claiming the prosecution is yet to provide them with the all documents to be used in the case.
Lawyers Waithera Mwangi, appearing for the third and fourth accused persons and Jack Oronga appearing for the first and second accused persons said the prosecution is yet to suffice them with the soil analysis report.
The prosecution however said the report is still being worked on at the Government Chemist and will be ready for submission to the defense in a month’s time.
Ms Maundu said the defence has been served with other documents, including three sets of inventories, amended charge sheet, ID parades, printout from the Registrar of Persons and bank cash balances printouts.
“We only had witness statements and we have just finished making copies of the other documents. We need to be provided with all documents before we can proceed with the matter,” said Waithera.
The chief magistrate ordered the prosecution to serve the defence with all requisite documents when the case will be mentioned on April 3. The hearing will be on July 15, 17 and 18.
