A top government official has lost control of his wealth amounting to Ksh96.6 million over the latest battle in court.
This is after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) was granted orders allowing them to freeze the property of the government employee.
Through a verdict delivered by Justice Esther Maina on Monday, February 14, the anti-graft body was given the nod to collect monthly rent from his houses and commercial buildings situated in Machakos.
The government employee caught the attention of EACC after it emerged that he had accumulated wealth amounting to Ksh96.6 million that is including high-end cars, huge parcels of land, and money deposited in different bank accounts.
His monthly salary was Ksh144,000 which did not match with the wealth he had accumulated in a period of five years until 2020 when EACC opened a case against him.
His ksh36 million held in different bank accounts is among what EACC has frozen accusing him of acquiring the said amount illegitimately.
"It is my finding that indeed the applicant (EACC) stands to suffer irreparable loss should the properties or funds withdrawn as there will be nothing left to forfeit and recover in the event the suit succeeds," Justice Maina ruled.
Justifying the move to freeze the assets, the judge argued that the move would cushion them from wastage, damage, or sale.
She however noted that if EACC fails to prove that they are proceeds of crime the top government official will get back all the frozen assets.
The case began in July 2020 when the government employee attached to the Treasury was accused of graft and his accounts frozen.
He was further suspended and allowed to receive only half of his salary until the case is heard and determined.
In his argument, the government official stated that he is a man of means defending the source of his wealth.
