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Ben Ekumbo
Ben Ekumbo is the fifth Kenyan Olympic official to be arrested over the Rio Games scandal in the country. Photograph: Dai Kurokawa/EPA
Ben Ekumbo is the fifth Kenyan Olympic official to be arrested over the Rio Games scandal in the country. Photograph: Dai Kurokawa/EPA

Kenya official found ‘hiding under bed’ before Rio 2016 corruption arrest

This article is more than 7 years old
Kenya police investigation report £6.4m in expenses and kit was stolen
Ekumbo has previously had to deny corruption charges in swimming

The head of Kenya’s swimming federation, Ben Ekumbo, was reportedly found hiding under a bed before being arrested as part of the country’s inquiry into missing money and equipment following Rio 2016.

Ekumbo, who is also the vice-president of Kenya’s Olympic committee, is the fifth senior official to be arrested as part of the inquiry. Police officers allegedly found boxes of Nike running shoes and unused Kenya uniforms that were supposed to be for athletes at the Games. Investigators are looking into a report that senior officials stole more than £6.4m in expenses and equipment.

Four other officials were arrested in September. Kenya’s chef de mission, Stephen Soi, was charged with stealing over $250,000 (£200,000) that was earmarked for travel, accommodation and expenses in Rio, while the secretary general, Francis Kinyili Paul, and a second vice president, Pius Ochieng, were charged with stealing kit. All three deny the charges and have been released on bail. A fourth official, Fridah Shiroya, had charges against her dropped.

Ekumbo has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to corruption charges. In 2005 a former treasurer of the Kenya Swimming Federation raised questions about why funds sent by swimming’s governing body, Fina, to assist Kenya’s participation in the world championships in Japan had allegedly remained in a bank account when swimmers were being asked to pay for their own trips. Ekumbo said he had transferred the money to Japan and denied any wrongdoing.

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