NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 30 – Two people were Thursday charged at the Milimani Law Courts for carrying goods affixed with counterfeit excise stamps with a revenue implication of Shs 1.4 million
The duo, Francis Mbarire Hungi and his accomplice Benson Mwangi Mburu were found conveying 16, 560 bottles of 2, 500ml Venice vodka along the Bomet-Narok Highway on September 21.
Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi released each of them on a bond of Shs 500,000 and a surety of a similar amount or a cash bail of Shs 300,000 with a surety of a similar amount.
The case will be mentioned on 13th October 2021.
Kenya Revenue of Authority Commissioner Investigations and Enforcement, Edward Karanja warned that the agency will not relent on operations aimed at detecting, disrupting, and deterring the use of counterfeit stamps on excisable goods by syndicates and organized cartels in order to enhance revenue collection.
“Carrying fake-excise stamped goods worth 1.3 mn is a form of tax evasion that denies the government the much-needed revenue,” he said.
Possessing or conveying excisable goods affixed with counterfeit excise stamps is contrary to section 40 of excise duty act and regulation 30(1)(g) as read with regulation 30(2) of the excise duty (excisable goods management System) Regulations, 2017. Regulation 30(2) provides for a fine not exceeding five million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both upon conviction.
