A Nairobi court has ordered the detention of businessman Yagnesh Devani for a day at Kilimani Police Station. This comes prior to facing new charges related to the 2008 oil scandal. Authorities arrested Devani on Tuesday and brought him to Milimani Law Courts. The prosecution then requested more time to file the charges.
Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki has ordered Devani to remain in custody until the formal charges for fraudulently selling mortgaged petroleum are filed. Despite defense lawyer Hilary Kiplagat’s request for bond, the court denied it. Triton Petroleum Company Limited, the company involved in the scandal, allegedly sold mortgaged petroleum without consent.
Also, prosecution plans to file 11 charges, including fraudulent disposition of mortgaged goods and conspiracy to defraud. Specifically, they accuse Triton of disposing of petroleum worth Sh71 million. This was done in favour of Total Kenya Limited without Emirates National Oil Company’s consent.
One charge claims Triton defrauded Emirates National Oil Company (Singapore) Limited by selling petroleum worth Sh1.3 billion to Total Kenya Limited without consent. Prosecutors accuse Devani of committing the offense on September 5, 2008. With that, they are trying him separately from the others already charged.
Additionally, Senior Principal Prosecution Counsel Eliphas Ombati noted that Devani hadn’t pleaded with his co-accused, and 24 witnesses had testified in his absence. Authorities had charged Devani on January 23 after he evaded arrest for over a decade, and they released him on Sh1 million cash bail.
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