KRA recovers USD28,000 hid in a jacket shipped to a Nigerian from USA

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 9 – The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Tuesday said it had recovered USD28,000 hidden in a jacket shipped from the United States of America to a Nigerian man.

The suspect identified as Peter Oluwafemi Olaiwon was arrested when he had gone to collect a parcel from the City Square Post Office.

In a statement, KRA Commissioner for Investigations and Enforcement, Edward Karanja said customs officers discovered the money concealed in a jacket hidden in a suitcase containing clothes and books that had been sent to the suspect by a Linda C Dye from South Carolina USA.

Olaiwon was arraigned in court on Monday and charged with financial promotion of an offense contrary to section 7 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act and Conveyance of Monetary Instruments to Kenya, contrary to section 12 of The Proceeds Of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.

The suspect however pleaded not guilty to both charges and was released on a cash bail of Kshs.150, 000. . He is also expected to execute a personal bond of Kshs.200,000.

This comes in the light of an arrest of another Nigerian national late last month who had attempted to defraud a nut processing company of Sh35.9 million and was charged with offenses of computer forgery and attempted stealing at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi.

The suspect identified as Endurance Obayan was arrested by detectives at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as he tried to flee the country.

The DCI said in a statement that the suspect had gained access to the Equatorial Nuts Processing Limited systems based in Nairobi and sent a fake invoice to their client in Australia, demanding payment of Sh35.9 million.

KRA has vowed to partner with other government agencies to curb all forms of transnational economic crimes.