Editor's Review

The Senator and two other suspects could not take a plea because the first accused person Joseph Maritim is still on the run.

Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago has been released from police custody. 

Mandago who was arraigned at a Nakuru Law Court Thursday, August 17, was set free on Sh500,000 bail or an alternative bond of Sh2 million.  

Also released are his two co-accused persons, Joshua Lelei and Mishack Rono who together were linked to the embezzlement of Sh1.1 billion meant for Finland and Canada scholarship programmes. 

The plea-taking session failed to take off after the Judge said it will not happen when the first accused person Joseph Maritim is on the run. 

Senator Mandago Jackson and two other accused persons in court.

The court ruled that the case will be put on hold until Maritim is arrested and charged alongside the three.

Maritim, who worked with Governor Mandago, is said to have fled the country together with his family before the news of the scandal broke out.  

Maritim is said to have gone to a neighbouring country, two months ago, and boarded a flight to Europe while his wife and child left through JKIA.

He was among three county officials who were suspended three months ago due to the scam in which parents lost more than Sh300 million that was paid for the Finland overseas education programme. 

Maritim was a signatory to the bank account where parents deposited money.