Liquor dealer on the run after evading Sh2.5 million tax

Liquor dealer evades taxes, fails to appear in court. [Standard, file]

A liquor dealer who was arrested for evading Sh2.5 million in tax is now on the run after failing to appear in court.

Nicholas Wanjohi Matu is accused of conveying excisable goods with fake excise stamps, which is a violation of the Excise Duty Act and Excisable Goods Management System Regulations, 2017.

Matu was nabbed on Monday, June 30, along Thika-Garrisa Highway with 600 cartons of liquor branded Visa Vodka, Grand Label and Whiskey, all with counterfeit excise stamps.

 He was supposed to take plea at the Milimani law court, but he did not show up.

Senior principal magistrate Gilbert Shikwe issued a warrant of arrest against Matu and ordered the Capitol Hill Police Station commander to execute it.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) said it is working with other government agencies to crack down on illicit trade.

KRA said it has deployed robust techniques to conduct intelligence surveillance, investigations, and prosecution of unscrupulous traders.