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Kenyan court denies Olympics official bail

Xinhua, November 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Kenyan court on Monday denied bail to Ben Ekumbo, a top official of the country's Olympics Committee and leader of the country's swimming federation, as police investigations against him continue.

Ekumbo who is the National Olympics Committee-Kenya first Vice-chairman and chair of the Kenya Swimming Federation (KSF) will remain in police custody until Tuesday next week.

Nairobi Milimani Law Courts magistrate Joyce Gandani declined to release him on bail pending trial with the prosecution maintaining they were currently investigating serious charges of sexual molestation of minors against the official at KSF.

So far, Ekumbo has denied two charges related to theft of Team Kenya kit and misappropriation of money meant for the country's Rio 2016 Olympics squad from the Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts.

According to the charge sheet, it is alleged that on the July 25 in Nairobi jointly with others not before court he conspired to steal 10,500 US dollars property of the ministry.

He faces another count of stealing by agent where it is alleged that on unknown dates in Nairobi he stole sports uniform. The case will be mentioned on Dec. 6.

Ekumbo was arrested last Monday under his bed at his Nairobi apartment following a raid by Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers and was the fifth Nock official to be detained over the Rio 2016 scandal.

Ekumbo, who was Kenya's Deputy Head of Mission for the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil, first appeared in court last Tuesday where he was remanded in custody until Friday when he denied the charges.

However, police threw a new twist to the case when they revealed they were investigating claims of sexual molestation of minors, an offence serious enough for a long custodial sentence arguing releasing him on bail would give him a chance to interfere with witnesses or make him a huge flight risk.

Nock Secretary General, Francis Paul, Team Kenya Head of Mission for Rio 2016 Stephen arap Soi and second Vice-chairman, Pius Ochieng are out on bail pending hearing of charges related to misappropriation of funds and theft of kit belonging to the country's Olympics team.

Treasurer Fridah Shiroya was also arrested before being released to be a State witness. Endit