Kenya’s Rio Olympics team’s deputy chief of mission Ben Ekumbo has offered to refund $10,500 of the money looted from the pot set aside for the games, the Africa Review reports.
Ekumbo told Senior Principal Magistrate Joyce Gandani on Friday that the cash was deposited into his bank account without his knowledge as he led Team Kenya in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The National Olympics Organising Committee’s first vice-chairman is facing charges related to the mismanagement of Team Kenya in Brazil.
Ekumbo was on Monday arrested in a raid on his house in Nairobi’s Westlands where bales of sports clothing and equipment were found.
The kits were supplied by Nike for use by Team Kenya at the Olympics.
He faced charges of stealing the sports gear on Friday with state prosecutors telling the magistrate they would inform the Asset Recovery Agency about Ekumbo’s offer.
The prosecutors also told the court they intend to charge Ekumbo, who is also the Kenya Swimming Federation’s chairman, with sexually molesting young swimmers.
The accused fought the charge, saying the sex scandal happened five years ago and that abusers were investigated and punished according to the law.
Gandani ordered that the accused be remanded until Monday to allow police more time to wrap up their investigations.
