Flying squad re-arrest tycoon Humphrey Kariuki

Billionaire businessman Humphrey Kariuki in court on August 19, 2019. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • He was arrested at 5.30pm and was escorted by his lawyer Kioko Kilukumi.

  • The businessman, who was on Monday morning charged with tax evasion, was ordered to deposit his passports in court.

Businessman Humphrey Kariuki was on Monday evening arrested by police officers at Milimani Law Courts shortly after he was released on cash bail of Sh11 million over charges of tax evasion.

The billionaire, who jetted back into the country on Sunday night according to his lawyer, was escorted by police officers in plainclothes to unknown destination shortly after he posted his bail to secure his freedom.

He was arrested at 5.30pm and was escorted by his lawyer Kioko Kilukumi.

Mr Kariuki presented himself to court early Monday morning after he was summoned in connection to tax evasion charges, amounting to Sh41 billion.

The police said he would be arraigned on Tuesday in relation to importation of methanol.

METHANOL

The businessman, who was on Monday morning charged with tax evasion, was ordered to deposit his passports in court.

The prosecution has presented three files. In the first file, the accused are charged with nine counts relating to tax evasion amounting to Sh17 billion.

Detectives had been hunting for the businessman after the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Noordin Haji, ordered his arrest alongside eight others on claims of tax evasion amounting to more than Sh41 billion by Africa Spirits and Wow Beverages in Thika.

Mr Kariuki, Wow Beverages directors Stuart Gerald Herd and Robert Thinji Muriithi, and Africa Spirits Directors Peter Njenga Kuria and Geoffrey Kaaria Kinoti Mbombua are facing a total of 21 counts of tax evasion and being in possession of counterfeit excise duty stamps.