Three in court over fake KRA excise stamps

Three people have been charged with six counts of forging Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) excise stamps and counterfeiting various trade marks from various wines and spirits companies for their own benefit.

Stephen Njenga Kimani, Rhoda Muthoni Mungai and Joseph Wambugu Muchemi are accused that on unknown dates in unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, jointly with others not before court, made false excise stamps worth Ksh 5.4 million with an excise value of Ksh 822,150,000 shillings used for purpose of revenue by the KRA with intent to defraud.

They are further accused of counterfeiting Napoleon Gold Brandy bottle caps numbering 185,000 bottle caps trade mark with market value of Ksh 20 million shillings and Legent Spirit bottle caps totaling to 296,000 bottle caps trade mark with market value of Ksh 44,400,000 shillings.

It is also alleged that the three were in possession of exciseble goods without excise stamps.

The three appeared before Nairobi Milimani  Principal Magistrate, Joyce Gandani, where they denied the charges.

The prosecution has objected to their release on bond or bail terms on the basis that the offence is serious and that they should serve as example to the public with similar behavior.

The court will Friday rule on whether to release the accused on bail or not.

The three were arrested Monday during a sting operation in Huruma estate, Nairobi.

They suspects were linked to a cartel that has been defrauding the government of millions in lost tax revenue.