Haji takes EACC back to drawing board over shoddy KEMSA investigations

Director of Public Prosecution DPP Noordin Haji has termed shoddy work the investigations done by Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission EACC over KEMSA scandal that saw the drugs body lose a whopping sh 7.8 billion

Reacting to the events, Haji noted that though he is supposed to prosecute the matter in court, the evidence provided by EACC was too raw and could not help him nail the culprits.

Haji further said because the matter had attracted a lot of public interest, there was need to make sure there are no obvious gaps during investigations and that sufficient ground work is done before any move is made.

“The constitution provides that the DPP must exercise State powers of prosecution with regard to the public interest, the interests of the administration of justice and the need to prevent and avoid abuse of the legal process,” partly read the statement from DPP office.

Haji claimed that EACC had failed to address all the gray areas in their investigations leaving loopholes that may finally help set free so many of those suspected of looting KEMSA.

“Having carefully analysed the report by the team and considering the requirements for a strong and successful prosecution, I have come to the same conclusion that the identified areas should be covered by the EACC,” Haji added.

It is also important for DPP to receive and analyze the recently presented Auditor General report so that to make use of its contents; and that rushing to prosecute anyone without sufficient ground may weaken their case and nothing will come out of it.

It is only after looking at the AG report that the DPP’s office led by Mr. Haji will take the matter a lot more serious.

“In order to fat-track the process, and in the spirit of team work, the prosecution team has been instructed to hold joint meetings with the EACC investigators so as to adequately address the identified gaps on sufficiency of evidence in accordance with the constitution, the ODPP Act, the Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Act, the Criminal Procedure Code, the NPP and the DTC Guidelines among others,” Haji clarified.

Mr. Noordin Haji acknowledge receiving the said file from EACC on September 18.