Following days of playing hide and seek with authorities, billionaire businessman Humphrey Kariuki finally honoured summons to appear in court on Monday.
The composed tycoon, alongside eight others, appeared before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi while accompanied by his lawyer Kioko Kilukumi to answer to tax evasion charges at 9am and denied several charges leveled against them.
Kariuki resurfaced barely a month after Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji recommended his prosecution over several charges linked to his business empire.
The charges
Among the charges he denied included: failing to pay tax, fraud, being in possession of counterfeit excise stamps, uncustomised goods, excisable goods affixed with counterfeit excise stamps, committing a tax offence and forgery.
His lawyer Kilukumi claimed that the businessman had learned from print and electronic media that summons had been sought by the prosecution.
He also informed the court that there was no warrant of arrest issued and that his client voluntarily appeared in court to take the plea.
The defense said that he flew in on Sunday evening so that he could appear in court and take plea on Monday.
Andayi in his ruling said that it will be discriminatory to detain Kariuki as requested by the prosecution.
He, however, directed that the businessman appears before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations within six hours after he meets the bail and bond terms.
Prosecution wanted to be given until Tuesday 9am to decide if they should to oppose his release on bond.
Further, the prosecution asked that Kariuki provides a copy of his passports so that they can verify any entry of exit and entrance stamps.
The businessman is said to hold dual citizenship with Cyprus and Kenya.
The prosecution also wanted to involve Interpol to inform their decision if to oppose his application for bail.
Tycoon's co-accused
The defense, however, told the court that Kariuki is not a direct investor of Africa Spirits Limited but only an investor through a corporate body.
Kariuki is charged alongside three directors of WoW Beverages Limited, four others from Africa Spirits Limited and a driver said to be an accomplice.
The other suspects include Kariuki Stuart Gerald (director, WOW Beverages), Peter Njenga Kuria (director, Africa Spirits Ltd), Robert Thinji Murithi (director, WOW Beverages, Geofrey Kinoti (director, Africa Spirits).
Others to face the seven separate charges included Sethu Prabhu (assistant production manager, Africa Spirits), Eric Nzomba (driver), Kepha Gakure (tax manager, Africa Spirits).
Suspects freed on bail
The magistrate court ordered all the suspects to be released on Sh22 million bond each with a surety of a similar amount or pay alternative cash bail of Sh11 million each.
The six suspects who pleaded to the charges in the three files on Monday are also to deposit their passports with the court.
The case will be mentioned on September 2, 2019.
The magistrate has also issued a warrant of arrest against one the suspects, Erick Nzomba, who failed to honour court summons.
