A tycoon charged with attempting to bribe Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has been allowed to fly to the United Kingdom to attend to his daughter’s medical needs.
Mombasa Senior Principal Magistrate Henry Nyakweba allowed Praful Kumar to travel overseas for a month, dismissing allegations by the prosecution that the suspect was planning to run away.
“I have no reason to even imagine that the accused person’s intended travel to UK is a manoeuvre to escape, the reason given for the intention to travel is to a company a sick daughter. Though no medical documents were given, I do not think that a reasonable parent in his senses can feign illness of his own child,” Mr Nyakweba said.
Senior Mombasa Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Ingonga Mulele had asked the court to deny Mr Kumar leave to travel, arguing that he is a flight risk and is likely not to return to Kenya to continue with the criminal proceedings against him.
Through an affidavit by Ethics and Anti–Corruption Commission, the prosecutor said that the suspect has not given any authentic medical records to prove the ill health of his alleged daughter in Kenya that would necessitates the medical treatment abroad.