How KRA arrests will bring the entire Times Tower down with a thud

Image result for kra arrestedPolice have been allowed to Thirty-eight Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) employees arrested on Friday for another 14 days as they continue with their investigations.

The prosecution led by Duncan Ondimu told the court that the offences were very complex and the investigators required more time for forensic examination of electronics seized from accused persons.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had pleaded with the court to have the suspects detained for 21 days, saying detectives need more time to retrieve data from 178 seized phones and laptops as well as M-Pesa statements for forensic examination. The DCI also argued that 48 more KRA staff were on the run and that they could interfere with investigations.

However, it has emerged that the Kenya Revenue Authority staff led by some commissioners are planning a go-slow to protest the arrest of 80 colleagues by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

 

DPP Noordin Haji later released a statement saying a number of them are alleged to have colluded with certain individuals to evade payment of taxes and reduce tax liability.

Haji revealed that out of all the senior and middle-level management officers under investigation, 62 of them are from the Domestic Taxes Department and 18 are from the Customs and Border Control Department.

It also emerged that police are planning to go to court on Tuesday to obtain arrest warrants for another 41 people wanted by DCI for among other things, tax evasion, money laundering, abuse of office and neglect of duty.

The prosecution, led by Duncan Ondimu, on Monday wanted the officials detained for 21 days at Central and Kamukunji police stations to enable them to conclude investigations.

Accused persons are said to have been actively involved & colluded with certain taxpayers in a criminal enterprise to evade payment of taxes & or reduce tax liability. The case will be mentioned on 27th May 2019.

On Monday, intelligence sources told the Star that they have been monitoring conversations in WhatsApp forums set up by the KRA staff that have revealed the plan.

“They want to argue that because many people have been arrested and interdicted, the workload has increased and they will not be able to collect taxes efficiently,” a source involved in the investigations said.

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