Philip Murgor: Knows Too Much About Goldenberg?
It is not surprising that Philip Murgor wants to continue carrying a gun around. In becoming one of the richest lawyers in the land, he’s naturally made a lot of enemies.
Picture this scenario. You are a lawyer and are defending a client charged with theft. Naturally he has to tell you a lot before you can successfully defend him. Then somewhere in the middle of that long trial, you switch sides and end up representing the complainants (the guys who got robbed). As they desperately seek for redress.
That is the situation with Murgor. He represented both Patni and the Central Bank of Kenya in Goldenberg-related cases. Technically there is nothing wrong with that, morally, it’s another issue altogether. But then morals do not make lawyers rich and Murgor has made a fortune from the Goldenberg cases. But that is not the issue here.
There are few people alive today who know as much about Goldenberg as Murgor.
This smart lawyer knows the game the politicians are playing and so he’s decided to take them head-on and play their game. He’s now trying to sue police bosses for dragging his good name into Goldenberg. I hope he succeeds because it will bring to light this whole current anti-corruption circus going on in Kenya.
Actually this is more evidence that the so-called war on corruption is selective and definitely headed in the wrong direction. What does a lawyer who represented the thief have to do with the theft itself? Lawyers get paid from Bank robber’s loot all the time in Kenya. A lawyers’ job is to defend their client, not start an investigation into where the money to pay for their services is coming from.
your article is factually wrong and so absurd that it is not suprising that you have todate not recieved a single comment on the same. Philip Murgor has never represented Kamlesh Pattni or any of his companies in the Goldenberg Scandal. Murgor represented the Central Bank of Kenya from 1994 to 1998 when he withdrew following threats to his life by the powerful forces behind the Scandal.Thereafter the cases stalled for one reason or another.
ReplyDeleteIn 2003 the Narc administration, determined to get to the bottom of the Scandal, reappointed Murgor and Murgor Advocates to take over the stalled brief and it remains on record until the present day.If Pattni had directly or indirectly retained Murgor, both Pattni and the Court would have objected due to elementary conflict of interest.
Attorney General Amos Wako yesterday determinedly stood by Mr Philip Murgor, a day after the director of public prosecutions was sacked. Mr Wako said he did not regret his decision to dismiss the murder charge against Mr Tom Cholmodeley, the son of Lord Delamere, but added that he did regret Mr Murgors dismissal. "He was one of the best prosecutors l have ever worked with. He is aggressive and thats the way prosecutors should be," Mr Wako said.
ReplyDeleteThe AG was also adamant that he had taken the right decision to dismiss the murder charge. "There are facts that are not clear in the file. If the inquest shows evidence that can sustain the case, I will not hesitate to prosecute Mr Cholmondeley," the AG added. And Mr Murgors replacement as DPP, Mr Keriako Tobiko, took office with guarded optimism and a promise to apply the law fairly to all. "I have no doubt that its very challenging but I believe that I will be able to face up to the challenge. I understand that I work under the direction of the AG," he said.
He went on: "We will apply the law and give justice to all, irrespective of their race, colour or creed. I know that I have come in when there are sensitive and delicate matters. I promise to give my honest, objective opinion on all matters." Mr Wako commented: "Im sure Mr Tobiko is aware of the challenges. In other countries, the DPP enjoys security of tenure because of the challenges that have to be faced. The proposals to give the DPP security of tenure are contained in the draft Constitution," Mr Wako said. The AG refused to be drawn further into the debate on Mr Murgors sacking, however. His dismissal came in the wake of a public outcry against the AGs decision to terminate the murder case brought against Mr Cholmondeley following the killing of Kenya Wildlife Service ranger Samson Ole Sisina.
His decision was delivered to the Nakuru court where Mr Cholmondeley was arraigned by Mr Murgor. Mr Wako said that should an inquest into the rangers death prove that there is enough evidence to reinstate the murder charge then he would not hesitate to reinstate the initial proceedings. "It is the prerogative of the President and he has the powers to appoint and terminate. I dont want to speculate. In the office of the Attorney-General we deal with hard facts probable in a court of law. I dont know the reasons for the sacking. You can go and ask that from the President," he said.
Mr Wako would not comment either on Mr Murgors stated belief that he lost his job because, among other reasons, of the position he had taken on the handling of case involving a Sh6 billion haul of cocaine. Mr Murgor said he was unhappy with the way in which the case had been investigated as well as the handling of the drug haul itself; the biggest ever recovered in the countrys history. He was also concerned with the long time being taken to test the drugs. Mr Wako spoke in his office when he met Mr Tobiko. Present was the Solicitor General Mr Wanjuki Muchemi.
Sacked Director of Public Prosecutions Philip Murgor yesterday named seven prominent people he says tried to influence a Sh6.4 billion cocaine case that may have caused his dismissal on Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteThey include a Cabinet minister, a politician and senior lawyers. Murgor also named police officers he believes are interfering with the investigation, prosecution and disposal of the high stakes drug consignment seized almost simultaneously in Mombasa and Nairobi late last year.
In an interview with The Standard, Murgor said that hours before he was sacked, he met with Office of the President Assistant minister Mirugi Kariuki and named the high profile personalities.
When his phone rang later that evening as he headed for a talk show at a local TV station, it was Attorney-General Amos Wako informing him that changes had been made at the department of prosecutions. "I'd just been sacked," he said.
"Shortly before I entered the TV station, I met Mirugi. When I asked him for an explanation regarding my removal from office, he looked equally surprised." The Head of the Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr Francis Muthaura, says Murgor, communicated the news of the changes at the DPP to Wako. There were no details. "Only that I had been removed and that Keriako Tobiko had been appointed to replace me."
Yesterday, Mirugi could not be reached to comment on the matter. But his personal assistant, Mr Andrew Nyabuto, confirmed the assistant minister and Murgor had met. However, he said his boss had no role in Murgor's sacking, saying Mirugi had been a long-term family friend to the Murgors and had represented the former prosecutor's father-in-law in court several times.
Murgor insisted that he was not a casualty of the Delamere grandson saga that has degenerated into a controversy. Mr Tom Cholmondley, who had been charged with the murder of Kenya Wildlife Service warden, Samson ole Sisina, was freed after the State terminated the charge.
He said he was a victim of a well-choreographed scheme developed over time to remove him from office. Since January, he said, he had been operating on borrowed time. "The sacking didn't surprise me. On the contrary, I must say I'm very relieved it finally happened." Yesterday, Murgor spoke of what he termed frosty relations with his counterpart, Solicitor-General Wanjuki Muchemi, as well as a state-of-the-art office without telephone links, massive rent arrears and a shoestring budget that followed the suspension of Usaid funding for the operations of the DPP's office.
He also says he refused to play ball with people he described as extortionists, who he claims tried to use the prosecution machinery against members of the former Kanu regime.
The common perception is that Murgor was appointed DPP with the express orders to hound and bring to book members of the former regime alleged to have participated in massive looting of public coffers. Murgor, appearing to confirm this notion, said yesterday: "Quite frankly there is disappointment that I insisted on sufficient evidence. In effect, some people have been quite unhappy."
He says his name has been used to extort money from influential individuals of the former government. He told of individuals who made numerous trips and returned with briefcase loads of money. "This mostly happened during the Goldenberg Commission of Inquiry," Murgor explained. "The extortionists would arrive at the doorstep of their targets, threaten that I would soon be closing in on them, then money would be paid in huge sums. When the conspirators were unmasked and their scheme exposed, they turned their wrath on me."
Murgor also spoke of a "cold war" that erupted soon after Mr John Githongo dramatically resigned as Permanent Secretary in charge of Ethics and Governance, over the control of large sums of money that included donor funds for the war on graft.
it is a pity when Kenyans fail to see the truth even when it is plain and obvious. Philip Murgor was removed when he refused to let the 6.4 billion shilling cocaine be diverted by the Anglo Leasing Gang led by Stanely Murage of State House. In the Kenya police we know what happens to cocaine and heroine when it is intercepted. We never destroy it but reroute it to the Market. Philip Murgor was standing in the way of our business. Stanely Murage and Kiraitu Murungi carefully selected Keriako Tobiko due to his loyalty to the Anglo LEasing and goldenberg godfathers. All has gone according to plan. Anglo leasing criminal cases where Keriako Tobiko was chief defence counsel has stoppped. Saitoti his political godfather has been cleaed of GOLDENBERG. uNFORTUNATELY, THE Cocaine was destroyed due to international pressure.
ReplyDeleteit is a pity when Kenyans fail to see the truth even when it is plain and obvious. Philip Murgor was removed when he refused to let the 6.4 billion shilling cocaine be diverted by the Anglo Leasing Gang led by Stanely Murage of State House. In the Kenya police we know what happens to cocaine and heroine when it is intercepted. We never destroy it but reroute it to the Market. Philip Murgor was standing in the way of our business. Stanely Murage and Kiraitu Murungi carefully selected Keriako Tobiko due to his loyalty to the Anglo LEasing and goldenberg godfathers. All has gone according to plan. Anglo leasing criminal cases where Keriako Tobiko was chief defence counsel has stoppped. Saitoti his political godfather has been cleaed of GOLDENBERG. uNFORTUNATELY, THE Cocaine was destroyed due to international pressure.
ReplyDelete