National Land Commission (NLC) Chairman Muhammad Swazuri and 16 other accused persons were arraigned for charges of conspiracy to defraud the government.
According to the charge sheet, Swazuri and co-accused are accused of purchase of dubious land for the Standard Gauge Railway to the tune of Kshs. 221,375,000.
They are also charged with abuse of office, breach of trust, unlawful acquisition of public property, unlawful disposal of public property and neglect of official duty.
[caption caption="The court proceedings at Milimani Law courts where NLC Chairman Muhammad Swazuri is facing charges of conspiracy to defraud the government on 13/8/2018"]
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In Swazuri's corner is Prof Tom Ojienda who led his clients to plead not guilty to the charges on Monday.
On its part, the prosecution opposed the release of the accused persons on bail citing: the likelihood of witness interference, charges being serious and that accused persons could abscond court if released.
[caption caption="SADPP Lilian Obuo (Centre) leads the prosecution in court on 13/8/2018"]
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Front and centre for the prosecution is Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (SADPP) Lilian Obuo flanked by several lawyers from the office.
Obuo is an experienced advocate having taken up that position in 2016.
In a reshuffle by DPP Noordin Haji in June, the SADPP was named the head of Lands and Environment division.
Prior to moving to the Lands division, Obuo was the Head of International Criminal Law and Justice for two years. There, she was in charge of cases involving war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.
On the academic front, she holds a Masters of Law, Public International Law from the University of Nairobi an accolade she acquired in 2015.
[caption caption="Lilian Obuo as Head of War Crimes,Genocide & Crimes Against Humanity"]
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