Senator Mithika Linturi Facing 37 Criminal Charges, Says Fred Matiang'i

Interior CS Fred Matiang’i has dismissed claims that the recent arrest of Meru Senator Mithika Linturi was due to his stand on the BBI Bill.

Linturi was dramatically arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on April 28th while on his way to Parliament ahead of a special sitting where MPs were scheduled to debate a report on the BBI Bill.

Appearing before the Senate Security Committee on Friday, CS Matiang’i clarified that the politician’s arrest was linked to 37 criminal charges he is facing alongside Emily Nkirote Buantai, his co-director at Atticon Limited.

Matiang’i explained that on November 1st, 2018, Nkirote made a report to the DCI alleging that she was a director of Atticon Limited together with Linturi holding 50 and 1,050 shares respectively.

She called for a probe claiming that fraudsters had forged the board of directors’ minutes dated April 28th, 2017 and removed them from the shareholding, and appointed new directors.

On November 15th, 2018, Collins Kipchumba Ngetich, a director of Barons Estates Limited, reported to the DCI claiming that in June 2018, he discovered that the directors of Atticon Limited had fraudulently applied for renewal of an overdraft facility of Sh100 million without his consent.

Upon searching the Companies Registry, Ngetich said he found out that Barons Estates Limited was fraudulently removed from the shareholding of Atticon Limited using forged documents.

 “Since the two complaints revolved around the same personalities and entities, they were consolidated and an inquiry file was opened. The investigations were conducted and all persons of interest were interviewed and 26 statements recorded, documents collected and those suspected to be fraudulent, 33 in number were subjected to forensic examination and results obtained,” Matiang’i told the committee.

On February 9th, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions approved the prosecution of the suspects—Senator Linturi and Nkirote—following investigations by DCI.

CS Matiang’i says the two face at least 37 counts of fraud-related charges, including giving false information to a person employed in the Public Service; conspiracy to defraud; forgery; impersonation; obtaining credit by false pretense; fraudulently procuring the registration of a charge document; and intent to defraud.