Africa-Press – Kenya. A case in which Nakuru businessman Samuel Mburu and 13 others are accused of alleged links to a Sh64 million fraud was on Monday adjourned until March 22, 2023.
Mburu, the husband of Nakuru Governor Kihika, and former Kenya Bureau of Standards officials have since denied 24 counts of allegedly defrauding the government of Sh64 million through tax evasion.
They appeared before Milimani senior resident magistrate Zainab Abdul. The hearing will be on March 22 and 23 respectively after the parties agreed by consent.
Mburu is charged alongside officials from the Kenya Bureau of Standards, including former managing director Charles Ongwae. All the persons are accused of colluding with three companies to undervalue imported goods, thereby denying KRA millions in taxes.
A company operated by Mburu, Landmark Freight Services Limited, is also accused of colluding with KRA officials and two other companies (Gendipe Enterprises and Rupai Trading Limited) to conceal imported goods and evade taxes.
According to the prosecution, Landmark, Customs and Kebs officials helped Gendipe and Rupai to conceal imported goods with the aim of evading taxes. Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji approved charges against them over tax evasion allegations by Gendipe and Rupai Enterprises, which cost the state nearly Sh64 million in revenue.
While recommending their prosecution, the DPP said that following numerous cases of evasion and avoidance of tax payments that had affected the collection of government revenue, the DCI commenced investigations with regard to mis-declaration and importation of contraband products into the country.
The two companies reportedly imported goods from Dubai, which they declared to be machinery but were later found to be cooking oil. It is said that Gendipe and Rupai, with the help of a clearing agent (Landmark), Customs and Kebs officials concealed imported goods to evade taxes.
They are now facing charges of connivance to commit an offence, concealment of imported goods, abuse of office, neglect of official duty, wilful disobedience of statutory duty and breach of trust.
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