Bomet governor Hillary Barchok released on Sh15million bond in a Sh2million graft suit
Bomet governor Hillary Barchok has today been released on a cash bail of Sh5million or an alternative bond of Sh15million after denying corruption charges in a Sh2million graft case.
In her ruling earlier today, trial magistrate Ziporah Gichana of the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court said she had considered the seriousness of the offences, noting that they were allegedly committed while Barchok was still in office.
Barchok was charged with seven criminal counts ranging from conflict of interest to money laundering in connection with alleged irregular payments linked to county government contracts.
Barchok was accused of unlawfully acquiring an indirect private interest in the irregular payments of the devolved unit amounting to Sh2million between November 2019 and March, which he denied.
The payments were tied to contracts awarded by the County Government of Bomet to Chemasus Construction Limited, including: the route maintenance of Kimenderit–Kotoibek–Olbutyo Bridge Road, and for the hire of a grader.
The Director of Public Prosecution told the court the county boss benefited financially from contracts executed by the company, in violation of procurement and anti-corruption laws.
Court heard that in March 2021, Barchok received Sh2 million in his Equity Bank account from Chemasus Construction Limited’s account, an amount the Governor had reason to believe constituted proceeds of crime, having been irregularly obtained through contracts awarded by the county to the firm.
Barchok was further charged with four counts of using the proceeds of crime.
He allegedly transacted sums of Sh300,000, Sh314,000, Sh100,000, and Sh750,000 from his Equity Bank account to another account between March 15 and March 21 of 2021.
The prosecution counsels explained that the transactions were aimed at disguising the illicit origin of funds paid to him by the contractor.
Barchok has been jointly charged with Evans Kipkoech Korir, Director of Chemasus Construction Limited, as well as the company itself.
The DPP told the court that on March 10, 2021, the three entered into an arrangement to transfer Sh2 million from Chemasus Construction Limited’s Equity Bank account to Barchok’s account.
The move, according to investigators, was designed to conceal the source of the funds.
The charges brought against the county boss were filed under provisions of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, CAP 59B, which criminalizes the acquisition and use of illegally obtained funds, as well as conflict of interest under procurement laws.
The case will proceed to a pre-trial conference in the coming weeks.
Barchok was presented in court today after he was arrested yesterday after honoring a summons to the EACC headquarters in Nairobi, following the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)’s approval of charges against him after completion of investigations by EACC.
