The Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, Kenya has reportedly agreed to DPP Noordin Haji’s request for the court to issue a warrant of arrest against Italian Paolo Porcelli over the multi-billion Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal.
Porcelli, the Italian director of construction firm CMC di Ravenna, on Monday failed to show up in court for the second time. This prompted lead prosecutor Taib Ali Taib to call for his immediate arrest and presentation in court, describing him as a fugitive.
“I take personal offence to have a foreigner refuse to appear before this court. Porcelli is a fugitive. Italian companies refused to appear in court on Tuesday last week. The Counsel of Porcelli confirmed that he would appear today. But he has changed the tune now. That is unacceptable,” said Taib.
“We urge to find and verify that Mr Porcelli is a fugitive for justice. He has not presented himself to DCI or the court today. You should without hesitation issue warrant of his arrest and production in this court,” he urged Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti.
According to Taib, no African would behave before an Italian court the way Mr Porcelli did. “They believe they can reap our country and refuse to appear. They believe nothing will happen. Don’t allow them.”
But Porcelli’s lawyer Kevin Anami opposed prosecutor Taib’s statement terming it as racism-laden.
“Our constitution protects not only Kenyans. One of the most robust in protecting human rights. We are not trying to delay this process,” Anami argued.
Paolo Porcelli is also wanted in South Africa over a Sh55 billion project that never took off.
Meanwhile, former Kerio Valley Development Authority Managing Director David Kimosop and eight others pleaded not guilty to multiple charges in connection to the Sh63 billion dams scandal in which the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji says about Sh19 billion was lost.
They faced charges of abuse of office, willful failure to comply with public procurement laws and procedures, conspiracy to defraud the government of Kenya, engaging in the implementation of the project without proper planning contrary to the law and unlawfully procuring the services of Italian firm CMC di Ravenna other charges.
