The Supreme Court today ordered a retrial of Komo-Magarima MP, Francis Potape’s fraud case and released him on K1000 bail.
A three member Supreme Court bench consisting of Chief Justices Salamo Injia, Justices Goodwin Poole and Ere Kariko, quashed the case after finding errors in the case by trial judge Gibbs Salika.
Potape was sentenced to 2 and half years in prison on January 19, 2015.
He served 7 months while awaiting his appeal before the Supreme Court against his conviction and sentencing.
Potape was alleged to have conspired to defraud and dishonestly apply to himself and others monies belonging to the Joint District Planning and Budget priorities committee of K330, 000.00
Potape allegedly received K60,000 of that amount.
The charges arose from a meeting of the JDP and BPC meeting in his electorate in November, 2010.
The meeting where Potape was the Chairman, resolved to pay themselves so called outstanding sitting allowances, transport, security and food over a two period.
However no receipts were produced to show proof of expenses claimed by Potape and his committee.
The matter returns to court on September 7.
