38 KRA suspects barred from tampering with employers systems

A Nairobi court has barred 38 Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) suspects who are under investigation over tax evasion charges from interfering with the employer’s systems.

High court judge Lika Kimaru further directed that the the suspects should not go near the KRA offices until the DCI complete the investigations against them.

The suspects were also directed to report at the DCI offices at 10 AM daily.

The suspects are on a cash bail of Ksh.200,000 each. The prosecution has not yet preferred any charges against them since investigations are ongoing.

Last week in a miscellaneous application , the prosecution said that the evidence so far gathered and credible intelligence show that the accused were actively involved and colluded with certain tax payers in criminal enterprise to evade payment of taxes or reduce tax liability.

Onyango argued that being employees of KRA, on either permanent or contract basis, the suspects are aware of the KRA system and are capable of interfering with investigations by either directly or through offsite location and should thus be detained pending conclusion of investigations.

He further stated that 48 colleagues of the respondents are at large and are being actively pursued by security agencies.

“Investigations are complex and require a details analysis in respect to over 178 mobile phones numbers and Mpesa statements,” the court heard.