Agriculture PS Richard Lesiyampe has been released on a Sh3 million bail and a surety of a similar amount.
The other two suspects, former NCPB boss Newton Terer and Cornel Kiprotich Ng’elechey (General Manager Finance) also involved in the Sh1.9 billion NCPB maize scandal were also freed by the court on a cash bail of the same amount.
They were charged with unauthorized spending of public funds, conspiracy to defraud, willful failure to comply with the law relating to management of public property, abuse of office and neglect of official duty.
Anti Corruption Court magistrate Francis Kombo asked them to deposit their passports in court and restrain themselves from contacting witnesses.
The three were arrested on Thursday morning by EACC sleuths over the irregular purchase of maize by Cereals Board officials.
Read: KBC Top Management Under Probe For Embezzlement Of Funds
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin, investigations revealed that the NCPB spent over Sh11 million, an excess from the Sh6 billion budgeted for.
“The PS irregularly authorized the expenditure and failed to ensure that the purchase was done in accordance with the law,” read the statement from the DPP.
The case will be mentioned in 3 weeks for further direction.
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