Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court has ruled that embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and his co-accused in the Sh357m graft case can approach the public prosecutor to strike a plea bargain.
According to the Black's Law Dictionary, plea bargaining refers to an agreement set up between an accused person and public prosecutor to come to a resolution about a case, without ever taking it to trial.
In his ruling on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Nairobi Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti said the suspects are free to approach the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji to settle the corruption case.
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"The accused persons are free to plea bargain with the DPP and report on the progress to the trial court," Mr Ogoti ruled.
Mr Ogoti who, gave an array of directions was told by Sonko's lead lawyer Cecil Miller that he has been supplied with all the witness statements numbering over 10,000.
Sonko's other lawyer, Geogre Kithi, informed the court that the third accused in the case Patrick Mwangangi passed away and presented his burial permit as well as death certificate.
Following this development, the DPP asked for time to verify the burial permit presented to the court to confirm Mwangangi's death.
Further, Ogoti directed that the case will proceed before Senior Principal Magistrate Kagure Nyutu daily basis without any adjournments
He directed that no lawyer will be allowed to withdraw from the case on the hearing date.
Ogoti directed lawyers wishing to pull out from the proceedings to inform the court three days prior.
He slated the case to be mentioned on September 25, 2020, before Ms Nyutu.
Sonko and the other accused persons have denied the charges against them and are out on bond.
