Prosecution still not ready to begin trial in Sh41 billion tax evasion case

Prosecutors in Sh41 billion tax evasion case against businessman Humphrey Kariuki are still not ready for the trial.

When the parties appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Martha Mutuku yesterday, the prosecution said it requires 21 more days to enable it to compile and supply witness statements to the defence.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Vincent Monda said the documents sought are in large volumes.

He said they had given Kariuki some statements, but there were more documents that needed to be provided.

Defence lawyers said they want the prosecution to supply all the witness statements and other documents by September 20 and not on September 26 when the cases will be mentioned.

Lawyers Kioko Kilukumi and Cecil Miller, who are representing Kariuki, said they were supplied with 27 witness statements and 23 exhibits on September 4, which was very late.

They, however, told the court the inventory indicated more documents were still to be supplied.

The defence raised complaints that the prosecution is trying to apply delay tactics to drag the matter.

Mutuku directed the prosecution to comply and the two files on the case to be placed before her on September 26, 2019.

Mutuku was acting on behalf of trial magistrate Francis Andayi who was away.

Kariuki has been charged with tax evasion offences. The prosecution has presented three files in court.