Missing, tampered KRA seals at Africa Spirits factory

Missing or tampered Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) seals, vandalised alcohol boxes, broken bottles and damaged electric switches were displayed as exhibits on Friday as a Nairobi court toured the Africa Spirits Limited factory premises in Thika for the second time.

In one of the warehouses identified as A, it was established that a KRA customs seal, which had been used to secure the doors, was missing.

It also emerged the doors to the warehouse had been welded together, but it was unclear when this was done.

Lawyers Cecil Miller and Kioko Kilukumi acting for businessman Humphrey Kariuki complained that they had not been supplied with an inventory, which would determine the tampering of the scene.

The defence lawyers sought an undertaking from the prosecution and investigating officer if the scene was as it was on January 31, 2019 when the factory was raided in a highly publicised takeover.

The court was informed that there were five warehouses in the premises.

The defence raised issues with welding at the premises, terming it an interference with a crime scene. They sought to know on whose instructions the welding was done and whether KRA gave consent.

It was at warehouse A where a suspected death of a police officer in September last year and theft occurred.

The court said it would only take note whether there were seals or not and would leave further probing to cross-examination. Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi said the visit was to ascertain the state of the factory and the premises.