The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) intends to withdraw charges against 14 accused persons in the Sh4.2 billion Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) mall scandal.
In September 2019, the DPP said he is satisfied there is sufficient evidence to support the charges against the 35 people involved in the scam.
Erdemann Group was involved in the Lake Basin Development Authority Mall scam where the price of the cosntruction of the mall was inflated by over Sh2.5 billion shillings.
Former Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Onyango Oloo, former Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) Managing Director Peter Anguko Abuok and Bobasi Member of Parliament Innocent Obiri Momanyi, who were charged with offences of engaging in a project without prior planning, willful failure to comply with the law relating to procurement as well as abuse of office among other charges, pleaded their innocence in court in September 2019.
Mr. Oloo was freed on a cash bail of Ksh.6 million while Mr. Abuok and Mr. Momanyi were each released on Ksh.10 million cash bail.
Bribery and bullying
A year later, the DPP through senior state counsel James Kihara, sought to be granted more time, saying it was not ready to proceed with the pre-trial as it intends to drop charges against the 14 accused.
“We are about to drop charges against 14 accused persons in the case. We have written to my boss Noordin Haji to consider dropping the same accused persons and in about 10 days, we will give sufficient directions in the matter on whether we will withdraw the same or continue with the hearing of the matters with all the 26 accused persons,” said Kihara.
“I did communicate with the head of Economic Crimes at the DPP’s office who asked me to request the court for a little bit more time to get formal instructions over our intention to withdraw charges against the accused persons.”
Zeyun Yang, the owner of Erdemann Group, the firm contracted to construct the Mall has been accused of bribing his way out of scandals.
In 2017, Zeyun bribed former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero to spare his Seefar Apartments from demolition. Seefar Apartments was built on riparian land (at the shores of Nairobi Dam)
There has been a protracted battle between London Distillers Kenya Limited (LDK) and Erdemann Group Greatwall Gardens real estate in Athi River.
Though LDK was the first to construct and entrench itself in the contested land which was then marked as an industrial Area, Erdemann with the help of National Environmental Authority (NEMA) has tried to push LDK to close its factory,
The alcohol manufacturer has faced pressure from corrupt government officials who have been bribed by Zeyun Yang, Kenyanbulletin.com can confirm.
In the case of inflating the cost of LBDA Mall, officials at the DPP are making a mistake in terms of justice. Zeyun Yang should face justice and possibly deportation.
Zeyun, as a bully has managed to hoodwink the Jubilee Government that he is supporting the Big 4 Agenda in building affordable housing. Yet he build his houses on riparian and disputed lands.
Construction of Greatwall Phase 3 estate project endangers the life of residents. The houses will be right next to several industries emitting dangerous chemicals. How did NEMA okay construction of residential buildings next to industries?
Instead of fighting for the rights of industries, Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization Betty Maina has remained mum over the whole saga.
Zeyun builds low-quaity residential building in swampy areas or grabbed industrial land and then uses his corrupt networks to evict those who are righfully there, this is a bully. Many residents of GreatWall Gardens complain about dirty water, nonexistent water, high water and electricity bills.
Kenyanbulletin.com feels the DPP is not sincere in his dropping of charges against 14 people involved in the LBDA mall scandal
Erdemann Group MD Zeyun Yang, in particular, should be deported for corruption the morals of state officials.
