Three KPL match fixing suspects arrested last Friday in Roysambu, have been released on a Sh300,000 bond and sureties of the same after appearing in court yesterday.
The three, Russian national Akhiad Kubiev, Ugandan Bernard Nabende and Kenyan Martin Munga Mutua appeared at the Makadara Law Courts where they denied charges of conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to section 393 of the penal code and cheating contrary to section 315 of the penal code.
“You jointly conspired with others not before court by inducing Samson Otieno Aloo, the team manager of City Stars to deliver football match fixing of the City Stars versus Sofapaka game which would be played at Ruaraka on 11 march 2023 by promising to pay him 14,000 USD at the end of the match, an act which would influence the result of the game,” the charge sheet read.
The trio were arrested as they met with players and officials of Nairobi City Stars, allegedly to fix their FKF Premier League match against Sofapaka played on Saturday in exchange for Ksh.1.9 million.
Nairobi City Stars CEO Patrick Korir, team mamager Samson Otieno and the whistle-blower, footballer Festo Omukoto spent the better part of Sunday afternoon at the Kasarani DCI recording statements.
Omukoto was an easy target because he was involved in the vice before and got a four-year ban. He has since reformed and is now a brand ambassador for Kenya Footballers’ Welfare Association.
“Waliniuliza kama naweza wasaidia city stars kufanya nao business ya match fixing kwa games. walitaka nikuwe wa kumeet teams wanatarget, nawapea all information wanataka halafu baada ya biashara ndio tuongee,” he said.
“Kuna moja ako, huyu mrussia ndiye aliniweka kwa ile noma ilikuwa ya kwanza. Obviously sikutaka irepeat tena,” he added.
The targeted game for match fixing eventually played out a 1-1 draw at the Ruaraka Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Interpol have since taken interest on the case to know exactly what transpired on Friday night.
The case is set to be mentioned on April 3 and the hearing is set for July 17.