Two vessel masters were on Thursday arraigned before a Mombasa Court for allegedly making a false report about the quantity of rice and cooking oil they were shipping into Kenya.
Mr Sumra Suleman Umar and Mr Gajjan Mahamadsalim Suleman allegedly gave false information to the Kenya Revenue Authority’s customs officers at Mtongwe anchorage.
The court heard that the two Indians made a false document to withhold Sh77 million from the revenues authority.
Mr Umar was being accused that on February 4, 2018, being the master of a motor vessel Haseena registration number Z1586 knowingly made false report in a relation to a cargo on board.
The court heard that Mr Umar had reportedly made a false report at the Mtongwe anchoring that he was shipping 5,000 bags of rice instead of 10,800 bags of 25 kg rice with a customs value of Sh36.4 million.
Mr Umar was further charged that he allegedly lied that he was transporting five thousand 20-litre containers of cooking oil, while 26,600 containers were discovered in the ship with customs value of 9.6 million.
Mr Suleiman was being charged that on February 3, at Mtongwe anchorage being master of a motor vessel Uweesh registration number Z1511 knowingly made false report in relation to cargo on board.
The court heard that Mr Suleiman gave false information that he was ferrying 5,000 bags of rice into the country instead of 34,560 bags with a customs value of Sh31 million.
The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the charges before the court and filed an application to be released on bond.
Mombasa resident magistrate Christine Ogweno granted the request and ordered that Mr Umar be released on a bond of Sh4 million and two Kenya surety while Mr Suleman was released on a bond of Sh2 million and one Kenya surety.
Magistrate Ogweno also ordered that the accused persons deposit their passport in court pending hearing of the case.
The case will be heard on April 9.