KRA, KPA officials charged with concealing imported goods

Four officials of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) have been charged with concealing imported goods in an attempt to aid tax evasion.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and KRA said the suspects were charged with concealment and improper declaration of goods worth Ksh.6 million that were imported through the Port of Mombasa.

According to the charge sheet, the accused concealed goods at a KPA shed at the Embakasi Inland Depot in Nairobi on diverse dates between July 31 and August 4 this year “with the intention to subsequently remove them without following prescribed processes.”

The accused were identified as Erick Micheni of KRA and KPA’s Tom Oyugi, Enock Omondi and William Langat.

The KRA official, who is an ICT officer, was charged with a second count of concealing an assortment of imported goods on diverse dates over the same period.

He was also additionally charged on a third count with being in possession of counterfeit goods contrary to section 32 (A) as read with section 35 (1) of the Anti-Counterfeit Act of 2008.

“More interventions geared towards combating tax evasion and corruption in tax collection are in progress,” said the DCI and KRA.

The goods seized included rolls of electric cables, insecticides, water meters, face and body creams, pressure cookers, water heaters, tape measures, screw drivers among other items.