This archive report was first published on 18 September 2019.
On September 18, 2019, the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) cleared three shareholders and executives of Bluebird Aviation from financial malpractices after a nine-month investigation.
The DCI dismissed a complaint by part owner of Bluebird Aviation, Yussuf Adan, that his partners had siphoned more than $1 billion (Sh103 billion) from the airline through tax evasion, fraud, and money laundering.
According to court filings, the DCI investigated Hussein Farah, Unshur Mohamed, and Mohamed Abdikadir, the three shareholders and executives accused of financial malpractices.
John Kariuki, director of the Investigations Bureau at the DCI, stated in the clearance notice filed in court on August 28, 2019, that the investigations had not established facts that may warrant the mounting of a prosecutable criminal case.
Mr. Kariuki further stated that the complainant, Yussuf Adan, did not provide the foundation for his allegations, and where he made claims, they were found to be far-fetched.
The DCI's clearance notice was the product of investigations by other State agencies, including the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, and Financial Reporting Centre.
