Investigators probing Deputy Chief Justice (DCJ) Philomena Mbete Mwilu have flagged suspicious Ksh320 million transactions between 2013 and 2016 in various bank accounts she operates.
According to the Star, sleuths were baffled by the movement of huge sums and transactions leading to suspicion that the country's second-highest judge could be involved in money laundering.
"The nature of the identified account transactions and properties indicate a high possibility of fraud and money laundering," the Star quotes the report.
On March 16, 2016 - a few months before she joined the Supreme Court - Mwilu allegedly bought a parcel of land LR3734/1129 from Mutunga and Company, a firm associated with ex-CJ Willy Mutunga, for Ksh2.8 million.
Two months later, the DCJ sold the same piece of land for Ksh75 million to Forest Japan Hospital and Ksh74 million from an unidentified client.
"Theoretically, this implies that the subject bought the property at the price of Ksh2.8 million on 16 March 2016 from Justice Mutunga's company and sold it at a price of Ksh75 million to Forest Japan Hospital and Ksh74 million to another unknown entity," the DCI documents read.
In 2013, the Deputy CJ paid Ksh15 million to Kibwezi West MP Patrick Musimba - an amount she told detectives was a refund for a failed purchase.
Although her pay out was reflected in her bank transactions, investigators noted that there was no evidence of any payment from the MP to Justice Mwilu.
DCJ Mwilu's payout was made in a period when Musimba's election had been nullified by Justice Majanja following a petition by former MP Kalembe Ndile.
The Supreme Court Judge also received Ksh86 million in six instalments to Lucy Muthoni Magelo, wife to ex-Nairobi Speaker Alex Ole Magelo allegedly for the purchase of property in Lavington.
Detectives further highlighted that there were other transactions totalling Ksh95.6 million in cash and cheque deposits into Mwilu's accounts during the same time including a Ksh40 million deposit from Raei Investments Ltd.
The DCJ also paid Ksh56 million to Waruhiu and Company Advocates and Ksh35 million to Imperial Bank.
The detectives used details at Kenya Power and Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company to get details of Mwilu's properties.
"Some of the identified assets were also under-declared in the subsequent tax returns," the detectives noted of Mwilu's failure to file her tax returns in 2016 as required by the law.
On August 15, 2013, Mwilu applied for a Ksh80 million loan from Imperial Bank which was approved within one week despite her not having an account with the bank.
Again on September 6, 2013, a savings account in the name of A1 c/o Sweet Soil was created with the bank now under receivership and one month later Ksh12 million was internally wired into the account.
In total disregard of banking procedures, a bank staff deposited what detectives described as mysterious Ksh10 million in her account on November 11, 2014.
DCJ Mwilu reportedly also owns at least seven houses in upmarket Kilimani estate, one along Argwings Kodhek Road, two off Ndemi Road and another property in Athi River.
Justice Mwilu in her defence has, however, alleged that there is a grand scheme to remove her from office for her role in nullifying President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2017 election - a matter that has seen her sue DPP Noordin Haji, DCI boss George Kinoti, the Chief Magistrate’s Court and Attorney General Paul Kihara.
