Trader accused of evading Sh173m in taxes

Businessman Hassan Ahmednur at a Milimani Law Court.

A company director has been charged with evading taxes amounting to Sh173 million.

Hassan Ahmednur was charged together with his company Hanamal Construction Limited and denied five counts of tax fraud before magistrate Peter Ooko of Milimani law courts.

According to the prosecution, Mr Ahmednur, (pictured), committed the offence on diverse dates between January 1, 2015 and January 1, last year while earning a taxable income as a director of Hanamal.

Ahmednur is said to have made incorrect statements in his Value Added Tax (VAT) returns for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017, which reduced his tax liability by Sh65,651,535. In 2018, Ahmednur is said to have cumulatively reduced his tax liability by Sh107,348,465.

According to prosecution, the money is payable to the Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner General as required by the Value Added Tax Act 2013, of the laws of Kenya.

State prosecutor Nelly Ngovi opposed Ahmednur’s application for bail, saying he was a flight risk and if released, would abscond court proceedings.

“He had resisted arrest by threatening a police officer. He had pointed a gun at the officer and threatened to shoot him at point blank range,” said Ms Ngovi. Ruling on bail will be read today.