Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok has been charged before the anti-corruption court over allegations of conflict of interest, acquisition, and use of proceeds of crime totalling Sh2 million.
Barchok is accused of irregularly benefiting from contracts awarded to Chemasus Construction Limited by the County Government of Bomet.
The charges state that between November 14, 2019, and March 10, 2021, he knowingly acquired an indirect private interest of Sh2 million from contracts relating to routine road maintenance and the hire of construction equipment.
According to the prosecution, the money was deposited into Barchok's Equity Bank account from Chemasus Construction Limited.
He is alleged to have proceeded to transfer and spend portions of the cash in several transactions despite having reason to believe the funds were proceeds of crime.
Court documents detail that on March 15, 2021, Barchok transferred Sh300,000 from one of his accounts into another, followed by another transfer of Sh314,000 on March 20, 2021, to a different account. On the same date, he allegedly moved Sh100,000 to another of his accounts.
Later, on March 29, 2021, he allegedly transferred Sh750,000 to an individual identified as Morris Munene Kinyua.
The former governor, jointly with Evans Kipkoech Korir and Chemasus Construction Limited, also faces a money laundering charge for allegedly arranging the transfer of Sh2 million from the contractor's bank account into his own in a manner intended to conceal the source of the funds.
Barchok has denied the charges, and the defence lawyer Issa Mansour applied for his release on bond, saying he is not a flight risk.
Mansour disclosed that Barchok learnt about the case while on an overseas trip, then flew back to face justice.
"The accused herein cut short his overseas trip and flew back to Kenya to face justice after learning from the media that the anti-graft body had summoned him to record a statement and plead to charges", Mansour told the court.
He added that the former governor surrendered voluntarily to the EACC, thereby saving its resources looking for him.
Evans Kipkoech, who is being represented by Julius Anyoka, also turned in at the EACC offices on September 1 to record a statement on the same.
He told trial magistrate Ziporah Gichana that Korir, who is a dairy farmer in Kericho, took a boda boda to the offices of EACC due to a road traffic snarl-up.
"I urge this court to consider the determination of Korir to face justice by riding a boda boda to the offices when he learnt from the media that he was being sought", Anyoka said.
The prosecution, led by Vincent Monda, did not oppose the bail application.
Monda, however, asked the magistrate to order the accused bot to comment on the case and interfere with witnesses.
They also ordered not to leave the court's jurisdiction without permission.
The court will make a ruling this afternoon.
