Home » Phone data links deputy president William Ruto to witness bribery in ICC case

Phone data links deputy president William Ruto to witness bribery in ICC case

by Amos Khaemba

With less than 44 days to the election, the United Democratic Alliance presidential flag bearer William Ruto is still being haunted by the ghosts of his International Criminal Court (ICC) case.

Kenyan lawyer Paul Gicheru is currently facing ICC charges over allegations of tampering with witnesses that led to the collapse of Ruto’s case at the International court.

In the court papers, Gicheru is accused of being used by the Kenya Kwanza Alliance leader to sabotage the prosecution case.

During the closing submission on Monday, June 27, ICC Deputy Prosecutor James Stewart directly linked William Ruto to the network that bribed key witnesses to bolt out of the case.

The prosecutor alleged that lawyer Gicheru was the architect of the bribery scheme assisted by 10 other people whose common connection was the deputy president.

Stewart opined that an analysis of Gicheru’s phone records showed the direct involvement of Ruto and his close associate Simotwo.

“Open source evidence confirms that both attended this school … An analysis of mobile phone data indicates that Ruto’s number was saved as a contact, and of Simotwo, an influential Kenyan businessman and long-time business associate of Ruto.

“Simotwo was head of the board of directors of AMACO Insurance, a firm Ruto is reported to have close connections as a major shareholder and former co-owner, and which is one of Gicheru’s clients,” the prosecution alleged.

The prosecution urged the court to find Gicheru guilty of all charges saying his role in tampering with the witness was a grave offense.

“There is no innocent explanation consistent with the prosecution’s evidence, nor has any been suggested by the defense,

“It proves beyond reasonable doubt the accused’s essential role in the implementation of the witness interference scheme described below, which was conducted for the benefit of William Samoei Ruto,” said Stewart.

Gicheru is accused of tampering with witnesses -codenamed P-0274, P-0341, P-0397, P-0495, P-0516, P-0536, P-0613, and P-0800 to protect their identity- who would have been key in proving the prosecution case against Ruto.

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