The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has ordered the arrest and arraignment of the directors of Keroche Breweries Ltd over tax evasion.
Keroche Chief Executive Tabitha Karanja and her husband Joseph Karanja, who is the chairman of the company, are accused of evading payment of tax totalling to Sh14.4 billion.
In a statement Wednesday, Haji said investigations had revealed that the suspects were found culpable of 10 counts of tax fraud.
DCI and KRA officers are in pursuit of the couple and have pitched tent at the factory in Naivasha.
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He said he was satisfied that the suspects had a case to answer after reviewing the investigations file.
The DPP noted that Keroche Breweries Limited evaded taxes by failing to pay Excise Duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on its various products including Crescent Vodka, Viena Ice and Summit beers as well as duty stamps.
The alleged evasion of tax payment by Keroche Breweries Limited occurred between January 2015 and June 2019.
“Having independently reviewed the file and applying the provisions of the National Prosecution Policy, I am satisfied that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to charge the suspects listed herein with 10 counts of Tax Fraud, contary to section 97 (a) and (c) of the Tax Procedures Act, 2015,” said the DPP.