A customs agent has been charged before Busia Law courts with counts relating to tax evasion in 32,000 litres of ethanol worth Kshs 10.8 million in taxes.
Paul Otieno Owiti was arraigned to answer to a charge of being in possession of restricted goods contrary to section 200(d)ii as read with section 210 and 211 of the EACCMA, 2004.
Customs and Border Control officers arrested the accused at the Busia One Stop Border Post on the 15th January 2021 after he jointly with others participated in the fraudulent clearance of 128 drums of 250 litres of extra neutral alcohol.
Owiti denied the charge before Senior Principal Magistrate Hon. Patrick Olengo and was released on Ksh. 100,000 bond or bail of Ksh. 50,000.
In the same court, David Maina Kirathe faced two counts of concealment of imported goods contrary to section 202(a) of the EACCMA, 2004 and that of being knowingly concerned with fraudulent evasion of duty contrary to section 203(e) of the EACCMA, 2004.
Maina was arrested at Malaba One Stop Border Post after he concealed 35 drums of 250 litres of ethanol worth Ksh. 4 million in taxes by using pineapples on a motor vehicle. The truck was flagged by Customs & Border enforcement officers upon suspicion that it was conveying ethanol.
The accused person was released on a bond of Ksh. 200,000. The case will be heard on 1st June, 2021.