An Equity Bank staff member has been arraigned at a Nairobi court to face tax evasion related charges.
The banker, who was presented before Milimani Chief Magistrate Charles Ogembo faced eight tax evasion related counts, including conspiracy to evade payment of duty and interfering with information stored in customs computerised systems.
At the dock, Equity Bank Namanga Branch Cash Officer Douglas Wachira Gikunju denied the charges and was released on a Sh1 million cash bond.
A warrant of arrest has also been issued for Equity Bank Namanga Branch Operations Manager Benson Rwara Kabuu, who failed to appear in court.
The two bankers are suspected to be members of an elaborate tax evasion ring that has been fraudulently interfering with the KRA Simba System.
Arising from the scam, the two bankers faced charges implicating them in the potential loss of Sh124 million.
Also to be prosecuted are the clearing and forwarding agents, importers and the KRA staff suspected to have colluded with the bank’s staff in perpetrating the vice.
Already, an investigation into the role played by KRA staff in the fraud is at an advanced stage with a view to having them prosecuted.
KRA is committed to ensuring that any member of staff involved in facilitating tax evasion is brought to book.
Other banks under investigation include the National Bank of Kenya, Commercial Bank of Africa and Cooperative Bank of Kenya.
Plans are also underway to expand the investigation scope to cover several other banks.
Recently, a National Bank of Kenya staff, Kennedy Otieno Juma was charged before court with the offense of interfering with information stored in the customs computerized system.
The matter will come for hearing on April 7 at the Milimani law courts.
In a related incident, two employees of Cooperative Bank of Kenya, Leviscus G. Njeru and Ian Martin Ochieng were charged alongside three employees of clearing and forwarding firms for facilitating fraudulent transactions.
The bank officials were charged with tax evasion related charges and conspiracy to defraud the authority by interfering with information stored in the Simba Systems Customs.
The matter is scheduled for hearing on May 3 at the Mombasa Law courts.