Three Chinese Nationals Involved in SGR Ticket Scandal Denied Bail

Three Chinese nationals accused of offering a bribe in a bid to influence an ongoing investigation into the alleged multi-million shilling Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) ticketing scandal have been denied bail.

The three, identified as Li Gen, Li Xiaowu and Sun Xin were arrested last weekend at the Mombasa SGR terminus after they allegedly offered Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officer Andrew Warui and his team a bribe of Sh500,000 in order to influence the direction of the probe.

The three were on Monday charged with three counts of offering a bribe in order to influence an ongoing criminal investigation. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In his ruling on Friday, Mombasa Chief Magistrate Julius Nang’ea has denied them bail, noting that the accused persons are a flight risk since they do not have fixed residences in Kenya.

The judge further notes that it would be hard to trace the three suspects if their employer dismisses them.

Justice Nang'ea has also ordered they be detained at Shimo la Tewa prison ahead of a pre-trial conference scheduled for December 10th, 2018.

The three, who are employees of the China Roads and Bridges Corporation (CRBC), are said to be part of a cartel that steals more than Sh1 million per day by interfering with SGR passenger train's ticket booking system.