KRA official due in court over bribery
Mr Albert Kassanga (right) an assistant KRA Commissioner of Customs at the regional Kenya Anti- Corruption Commission offices in Kisumu shortly after he was arrested for soliciting a Sh30,000 bribe October 12, 2010. He will be arraigned in court Wednesday. JACOB OWITI
An assistant Commissioner at the Kenya Revenue Authority is expected to be arraigned in court Wednesday for soliciting a bribe.
Assistant Commissioner of Customs Albert Kassanga is to face charges of demanding Sh30,000 from a security guard in Kisii to facilitate the release of his vehicle, which was detained at Kisumu customs warehouse.
“The suspect declined to receive a sum of Sh20,000 and wanted it to be channelled though an intermediary,” Kenya Anti Corruption Commission public relations officer, Nicholas Simani said.
He said that last Friday, the security guard received a call from the suspect’s intermediary asking him to send the cash through the money-transfer service, MPesa.
"The money was sent and the transaction trail was monitored in Kisumu. The suspect released the vehicle on Monday after receiving the money,” Mr Simani said.
The arrest comes just two days before the anti-graft body regional office is opened, which Mr Simani said had been set up following numerous cases of corruption in Kisumu.
In the past, members of the public have complained over the numerous road blocks set up by traffic police officers.
The officers have been accused of abetting traffic offences by letting offenders go in exchange of bribes.
