The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Thursday, July 25, 2024, arrested a former Member of Parliament and his wife in a raid which led to the recovery of assorted items.
According to the anti-graft body, the couple was arrested after the former Isiolo MP Abdi Tepo attempted to open fire at the detectives during the raid.
The operation targeted Tepo’s wife- Halima Gura, a former quality assurance officer at the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The detectives conducted the evening raid to investigate fraudulent payments made to Beirut Pharmacy and Medical Centre in Eastleigh between 2021 and 2023 amounting to Ksh199 million.
“The couple was arrested on Thursday afternoon after the MP purported to open fire at EACC detectives who had gone to his residence for a search operation targeting his wife, a prime suspect in the multi-million NHIF graft scandal under investigation by the Commission,” EACC said in a statement on Thursday, July 25, 2024.
The EACC conducted searches in the houses of four directors of the medical centre as well as that of the hospital’s administrator.
They also searched the home of the NHIF Eastleigh branch manager Amran Mohammed during the raid.
“During the operation, detectives recovered two briefcases full of US dollars, estimated to be in millions, and assorted chemicals (in powder and liquid form) suspected to be used for making fake notes. Samples of the notes tested at the EACC Integrated Financial Forensic Lab were fake,” EACC said.
It is while at the house of Gura where the former MP, a husband of the suspect, is said to have corked his Ceska pistol after the officers stormed the residence.
EACC disarms former MP
He was disarmed after the detectives identified themselves and stated the purpose of their visit, according to the anti-graft body.
“This evening, OCS EACC Police Station handed over the former MP, his wife, and various recovered items, including the fake notes, Ceska Pistol with an expired firearm permit, and assorted chemicals, to the DCI under whose jurisdiction the matter lies,” the commission added.
The Beirut Pharmacy matter is among several NHIF cases under investigation to inform the prosecution of any culpable persons and recovery of lost public funds.
EACC noted that all the searched persons were interviewed and they believe the information obtained would lead to useful investigations.
Also obtained during the Thursday evening raid were original pre-approved NHIF claim forms, patients’ lists, bank transaction slips and electronic gadgets.
