Court Rules on Kenyan Sneaking Ksh238 Million at JKIA

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The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi
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The High Court has ordered the freezing of the Ksh238 million that was recovered from a Kenyan who had arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from Burundi. 

Lady Justice Esther Maina ordered the Assets Recovery Agency to keep the assets pending the determination of the suit. The judge ordered that ARA holds the funds for a period of 90 days. 

“An order of preservation and seizure of Ksh238 million found in possession of Brinks Global Service Kenya and Brinks Kenya Limited be deposited in the Assets Recovery Agency preservation USD Account held at a local bank. The order shall remain in force for a period of 90 days,” Lady Justice Esther Maina ruled. 

A photo of passengers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Embakasi, Nairobi.
A photo of passengers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Embakasi, Nairobi.
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The ARA had filed a petition- arguing that the funds were proceeds of crime linked to money laundering. 

State Counsel Adow Mohamed stated in court that they spotted a whopping Ksh238 million tagged as an export entry to the United Kingdom. He added that the funds were intercepted before being re-shipped to the United Kingdom. 

"We established that the respondents while attempting to send the funds to London, UK, indicated that the origin of the funds in is Kenya but concealed its origin which was Bujumbura, Burundi,” he stated.

KRA had released a statement last week affirming that the Kenyan showed conflicting export documents from the ones that were cleared by the Customs unit at the airport. 

The Authority urged all passengers to correctly declare all cargo at the points of entry and exits.

"KRA has invited Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) to assist in investigating the matter as a possible money-laundering attempt."

 "The Authority encourages passengers to correctly declare all cargo/items at the Ports of entry and exit as required under the provisions of the Second and Third Schedules of the EAC Customs Management Act, 2004," read part of the statement. 

Undated file image of a gavel on the bench in the courtroom
File image of a gavel on the bench in the courtroom
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