An agent from the Kenya Revenue Authority who has been on the run for 10 months for allegedly soliciting a Sh2 million bribe in 2022 has been charged.
Appearing before Milimani Anti-Corruption Magistrate Kagure Nyutu, John Obura Dimo denied that on November 26, 2020, at Ruiru Mabati Factory Ltd Showroom within Kiambu County, he improperly requested a financial advantage of Sh2 million from the complainant with the intent that in consequence thereof, he would facilitate writing off tax arrears of Sh19,456,309 owed to KRA.
The court released him on a bond of Sh1 million or Sh500,000 cash bail.
The matter will be mentioned on October 5, 2023.
The suspect was arrested by EACC detectives on Thursday in a garage in the Utawala area of Nairobi.
He was booked at the Kilimani police station before he was arraigned on Friday to take a plea.
Obura was an auctioneer with Keysyan Auctioneers, an Agency engaged by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
EACC said the suspect allegedly demanded a bribe of Sh2 million from a private company in order to assist in "waiving" a Sh19.5 million in tax arrears owed to KRA.
"The suspect has been on the run since December 2022 when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) concurred with recommendations of EACC to prosecute him," the commission said.
EACC said the suspect, who was out on police bail pending investigations, defied the commission's summons to appear for plea-taking and instead disappeared in December 2022.
