Nairobi News

A Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) officer on Wednesday revealed in court that one of the key suspects in the Anglo-Leasing scam case has been converted into a state witness.

Mr Mario Garca Tariche told senior principal magistrate Martha Mutuku that Mr Brandley Birkfield, who had been charged alongside Deepak Kamani, Rashmi Kamani and their father Chamanlal, is now a state witness in the Anglo-Leasing case.

Ms Mutuku heard that Mr Birkfield, a director of Infotalent Ltd, has been converted into a state witness “to give damning evidence against some of the accused persons.”

Mr Tariche, who flew into the country from Washington on Monday to testify against the Kamanis, former senior civil servants  Joseph Magari, David Onyonka and Dave Mwangi, said he witnessed Mr Birkfield record a statement in June 2015 at Florida, Miami in the United States of America.

Mr Tariche said he accompanied Mr Birkfield to the office of the Attorney where two officers from the EACC had flown to record his statement.

EVIDENCE

He said that Mr Birkfield was questioned by the lead investigator, Mr Julius Muraya, who was accompanied by Mr John Kiilu.

Mr Tariche was led in his evidence in chief by two senior State Prosecutors Victor Mule and Nicholas Mutuku and cross-examined by defence lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi.

“Did you know that Mr Birkfield has a criminal record in the USA and that he was convicted,” Mr Abdullahi asked Mr Tariche

“No am not aware,” the FBI officer answered.

The witness also said he was not aware that by the time Mr Birkfield was being converted into a state witness to testify against some of the accused an international warrant of arrest had been issued against him.

The witness further said that he was not aware Mr Birkfield was charged before the Kenyan Courts. The case was adjourned to November 20, 2017