A clearing agent has been fined Ksh 3 million or, in default, face a two-year imprisonment for demanding a bribe worth Ksh 2.9 million from a church official.
According to a statement by the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the suspect was convicted at the Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi on two counts of requesting a bribe and obtaining money by false pretenses.
Investigations revealed that the suspect was sentenced for demanding a Ksh 2.9 million bribe from church officials to facilitate the clearance of a cargo container for a children's home on October 4, 2020, despite the fact that the container had all customs duties duly paid.
"The suspect was sentenced to pay a fine of Ksh 1.5 million or serve two years in prison for demanding a Ksh 2.9 million bribe from officials and the children's home on October 4, 2020," the ODPP statement read.
"His intent was reportedly to influence the writing off of alleged taxes due to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)," ODPP stated.
In October of the same year, he falsely claimed that the church had an outstanding customs duty and demanded a bribe of Ksh 5.8 million to have the debt written off by KRA officials, which was later negotiated down to Ksh 2.9 million.
ODPP stated that the suspect received Ksh 20,000 from a church official, falsely presenting it as travel expenses for a supposed trip from Busia to Nairobi, where he claimed to resolve the tax dispute between the church and KRA.
"The court heard that on October 1, 2020, he misled officials from the church into giving him Ksh 20,000, claiming it was for travel expenses from Busia to Nairobi. This was allegedly for a meeting with KRA officials to resolve a tax dispute between KRA and the Children's Home," ODPP added.
On May 14, 2024, he was arrested and arraigned, following the Director of Public Prosecutions’ concurrence with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC's) recommendation to prefer charges under the Anti-Bribery Act and Penal Code.
The suspect was then fined Ksh 50,000 or face eight months in prison for obtaining Ksh 20,000 under false pretenses.
Milimani Anti-corruption Court Principal Magistrate Celestine Okore ruled that the suspect should serve all sentences concurrently.
