A former senior KRA official has been fined Sh1 million or serve six months in jail for obtaining more than Sh7.8 million by false pretence.
Nairobi senior Principal magistrate Benard Ochoi on Thursday, sentenced Peter Muhu Muriuki after the court found him guilty of committing fraud by pretending that his law firm was authorized to collect taxes.
While sentencing Muriuki, the magistrate noted that he had considered his mitigation and a probation report tabled in court.
On Wednesday, Muriuki through his lawyer Danstan Omari mitigated saying that he is a first offender and he had reformed.
Omari said the accused has a sickly wife and he is taking care of her medical bills as he is a breadwinner.
Last week, the magistrate ruled the accused did not dispute the allegations that he was a KRA officer.
Ochoi said Muriuki misled Scripture Mission East Africa by stating that his law firm was entitled to collect taxes.
The magistrate said there was evidence that Muriuki induced the director of Scripture Mission East Africa to deliver Sh7.8 million to an account belonging to Mungu and Co-advocates by falsely pretending the said law firm was an agent of KRA and authorised to collect taxes.
Muriuki is also charged with issuing a fake Kenya Revenue Authority pay-as-you-earn credit slip to the director, purporting it to be valid.
The magistrate said at the closure of the prosecution case, the prosecution called 12 witnesses, all of whom successfully identified the accused person.
"The court has satisfied that the prosecution had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt and I, therefore, find him guilty and convict him as charged," the magistrate said.
