Lawyer in court for tax evasion

A lawyer based in Mery has been charged with evading tax on a vehicle that was on transit to Uganda.

Gituma Kioga appeared before Nyeri senior principal magistrate Mathias Okuche and faced two counts of related to tax evasion.

In the first count, the lawyer was charged that on September 19 in Meru county, he tried to divert the vehicle worth Sh1.5 million.

He further faced an alternative count of interfering with the registration systems of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in regard to the same vehicle.

His lawyer Douglas Obwongi requested that his client be released on reasonable bond, noting that as an officer of the court, he is ready tcomply with all conditions.

"As a counsel practising in Meru, the accused is ready and willing to appear in court as and when required,” Obwongi said.

He further said his client is not a flight risk and asked to be supplied with the charge sheet and all evidence the prosecution intends to rely on.

Kioga's application was opposed by KRA's lawyer Ing’ahizu Doris, who said the offence was serious and was also a matter of public interest.

“The matter involves tax evasion by the accused who should not have released the vehicle without payment of custom duties."

The magistrate, however, released the accused on Sh200,000 bond or a Sh100,000 cash bail.

The case will be mentioned on October 24.