Former Chase Bank chairman Zafrullah Khan yesterday was charged with conspiring to defraud the bank of more than Sh1.6 billion. He denied five counts of fraud and theft. Khan appeared before Milimani senior principal magistrate Martha Mutuku. He was ordered remanded at the Kileleshwa police station until today at 2.30pm, when the magistrate will rule on whether he will be released on bond. Senior state counsels James Warui and Victor Mule have opposed bail and want him to remain in custody until the trial is concluded.
They said he is a flight risk. The prosecutors told the court investigating officer inspector Julius Musoga in his sworn affidavit said the accused faces other charges in five different files, also involving millions of shillings. Khan’s lawyer Cecil Miller told the court the prosecution initially failed to set aside a High Court order, compelling release of his passport to facilitate his travel and thus resorted to hurrying the charges in court. He said the charge sheet at the chief magistrate’s court was a reaction to Khan’s seeking permission leave the country for medical care. Miller told court Khan’s passport was impounded last April, but on November 26 last year, he was granted favorable orders to travel out of the country “He has since traveled and come back as the investigations went on,” Miller said.
