Court suspends the daily reporting of over 80 KRA officials in tax evasion claims at DCI

Part of the 80 KRA suspects when they were arraigned at a Milimani court. They have been excused fro,m reporting to DCI offices daily. [File, Standard]

Over 80 Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) staff facing tax evasion claims yesterday got a reprieve after the court excused them from reporting to Directorate of Criminals Investigations (DCI) daily.

High Court judge Ngenye Macharia yesterday allowed an application by the KRA officials to be excused from reporting to DCI offices daily.

The judge instead directed them to report on July 11, 2019, after the defence made an oral application seeking to be excused.

Through lawyer Philip Nyachoti, the officials said they have been reporting to DCI without fail and nothing much has come out of it.

The officials raised complaints that the DCI officers have already taken their phones.

“The officials cannot engage in daily activities even going to work despite them having obeyed the summons by the DCI,”said Nyachoti.

He added that if there was sufficient and compelling reason, then the order to report should be varied to two weeks.

“There is no charge sheet against the suspects and the cash bail remains as security thus any further court attendance is unlawful,” said Nyachoti.

The judge ruled the suspects must be informed if any charges will be levelled against them before the case is mentioned on July 18, 2019.